ZCZC
BSP-18
CRICKET-SYLHET-STADIUM
SICS ready to host first ever BD-ZIM Test
DHAKA, Oct 31, 2018 (BSS)- Sylhet International Cricket Stadium (SICS) is
ready to host its first ever Test match as Bangladesh will take on visiting
Zimbabwe in the first Test of the two-match series schedule to begin on
Saturday (November 3).
The series opener will enable SICS debut as the eighth Test venue in the
country.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), local divisional cricket association
and law enforcer agency have taken all the preparation for successfully
hosting the Test. The local cricket fans are also eagerly waiting to watch
the Bangladesh-Zimbabwe maiden test match in this venue.
BCB director Shafiul Alam Chowdhury Nadel, talking to BSS, said they have
taken all the preparation to host the first-ever Test and working
relentlessly on the entire law and order situation and campaign before the
Test match.
They would make best use of their past experience as well for successfully
hosting the Test, he said.
Shafiul said as SICS is going to host the first-ever Test so they have
something difference as they are going to use special coin in Bangladesh-
Zimbabwe first Test. The coin would contain the logo of both Bangladesh and
Zimbabwe Cricket Boards. The organisers also plan to gift Sylhet’s tradition
studded crest to Zimbabwe’s captain and coach.
Sonjib Agarwal, the curator of the SICS, said the stadium is very
beautiful to look and it’s drainage system also good. The ground is made in
such way that there is no possibility of water logging on the ground during
the rain.
He said though the ground is new but the wicket is good enough like Dhaka
and Chittagong stadium and he hoped that the wicket would produce a result
orient Test match.
According to BCB source, the stadium has six practice pitches and seven
wickets which is constantly maintaining by a BCB appointed curator.
The local sportsmen think the SICS already debuted through T20 match and
going to be host first ever Test in a few days. There is also plan to
organize ODI match. It is a really big reward for the people of Sylhet.
The venue so far has staged seven T20I games, six of them during the 2014
World T20 and another was held in February this year between Bangladesh and
Sri Lanka.
The stadium was built in 2007 and it was expanded and renovated to host
matches of the 2014 ICC World Twenty20. The most striking part of the stadium
is the newly built country’s first ‘Green gallery’.
BSS/SG/SSS/1800 hrs