Australia to play five T20Is in Bangladesh

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Australia's tour of Bangladesh for a five-match T20I series in August will go ahead despite an alarming spike in Covid-19 cases in this country, reports news agency UNB.

Quoting unnamed sources, The Sydney Morning Herald has reported that Cricket Australia is satisfied with the bio-security arrangements that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has promised to provide the players during the tour.

Meanwhile, the BCB has announced the itinerary for the August tour. The visiting side will play five T20 internationals against the hosts at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka. The Australians will arrive in Dhaka on 29 July.

BCB's chief executive Nizam Uddin Chowdhury said, “The BCB and Cricket Australia have worked tirelessly together for confirming the itinerary. Naturally this was a challenge due to the Covid-19 pandemic as ensuring health safety and security is a priority prerequisite for holding any cricket series in these times.”

"I am pleased to say that a comprehensive bio-security plan is in place and will be implemented during the tour for the protection of players and staff of the two teams and the match officials. We are really looking forward to an exciting and enjoyable contest between Bangladesh and Australia."

Bangladesh`s Mushfiqur Rahim (C) talks with Australia`s captain Aaron Finch (L) after losing the 2019 Cricket World Cup group stage match between Australia and Bangladesh at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, central England, on 20 June, 2019
AFP file photo

The tour had looked a solid prospect until the Bangladesh government eased the lockdown restrictions for eight days for the holy festival of Eid-ul-Azha, raising concerns about the Covid situation in the country.

However, health experts in Australia, including the chief of the national advisory committee to Covid-19, have criticised the move. They have warned the ease could fuel the already devastating Covid situation of the country. Despite that, Cricket Australia is reportedly happy with Bangladesh's proposed bio-security arrangements for the tour.

BCB had earlier proposed that Cricket Australia split the series into two venues in Dhaka and Chattogram, which the latter disagreed due to the grim Covid-19 situation in the country.

The Australia cricket team will take a chartered flight from the Caribbean, where they are touring currently, to Dhaka next week. They will travel to the team hotel directly from the airport. While travelling to the team hotel from the airport, the Australian team members will not require traditional immigration procedures at the airport to avert Covid-19 risks.

The five matches of the series will be played on 3, 4, 6, 7 and 9 August at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.