ZCZC
BSP-11
CRICKET-BD-IRE-AUS-TOUR
Australia to visit Bangladesh in June for two-match Test series
DHAKA, March 11, 2020 (BSS)-Cricket Australia is all set to visit
Bangladesh for a two-match Test series in June, said the Bangladesh Cricket
Board (BCB) in a press release on Wednesday.
The two-match series, the fourth visit of the Australia team in the country
since Bangladesh’s elevation as the Test nation in 2000, is part of the World
Test Championship (WTC) games.
The BCB has also released the itinerary of the two-match series with the
first match to be held from June 11 to 15 at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury
Stadium in Chattogram. The second Test is from June 19 to 23 at Sher-e-Bangla
National Cricket Stadium.
The Australian team first visited Bangladesh in 2006 for a full bilateral
series including two-match Test series and three-match ODI series. This was
their one and only full bilateral series in the country.
Thereafter just after the 2011 World Cup, which Bangladesh co-hosted along
with India and Sri Lanka, Australia came here for a three-match ODI series.
Australia though was scheduled to visit this country for Test and ODI
series after the 2011 ODI series, they several times refused to tour here,
citing security reasons. Even they refused to host Bangladesh in their
country also.
However, the deadlock was broken in 2017 when they toured here for only
two-match Test series. The series is historical for Bangladesh as they gave
the Australia a bitter test of defeat and eventually drew that series.
At the same time, the BCB also released their itinerary of their Ireland
tour in which they would play a three-match ODI and four-match T20 series.
Ireland however is set to organize the T20 series in England since some of
their venue will go through an extensive renovation, said Cricket Ireland’s
chief executive Warren Deutrom.
“2020 is one of Ireland’s biggest home seasons with three major nations
touring and 15 matches to host,” Deutrom said in a statement.
“Consequently, it has been our most complex match allocation process ever,
given the multiple challenges we are working through.
“Chief among these is the loss of access to one of our four international
grounds for probably two seasons, with Clontarf undergoing extensive
renovations,” Deutrom said.
Bangladesh however will arrive in Ireland on May 8 after which they would
play a warm-up match against Ireland Wolves on May 11 at North Down, Belfast.
The three ODIs are on May 14, 16 and 19 and all of the matches will be held
in Stormont, Belfast.
The Tigers then will travel to London with the first T20 on May 22 at Oval,
London. The second match is on May 24 at Chelmsford, Essex while the third is
at Bristol on May 27. Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham will host the
series ending fourth T20 on May 29. The team then departs for the country on
May 30 from London.
BSS/SMP/ARS/1817 hrs