ZCZC
BSP-07
CRICKET-PAK-TOUR-POSTPONED
Final leg of Bangladesh’s tour of Pakistan postponed
DHAKA, March 16, 2020 (BSS)-Bangladesh’s final leg of Pakistan tour,
which involves one-off ODI and a Test in Karachi in early April was finally
called off in light of growing concerns around the COVID-19 (novel
coronavirus) and travel restrictions around the world.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)
on Monday reached a consensus in this regard, ending all speculations.
The two boards will now work together to identify a future window for
rescheduling the ICC World Test Championship fixture, said a BCB press
release.
The Bangladesh’s tour of Pakistan went ahead after much deliberation. In
the first two phases of the tour, Bangladesh played a three-match T20 series
and in the second phase they played a Test in Rawalpindi. The Test match was
the part of World Test Championship game, so as the second Test.
The Bangladesh Team was due to reach Karachi on 29 March. The one-off
ODI was scheduled to be held on April 1 while the second Test from April 5-9.
With the rising concern of coronavirus, BCB last week was forced to
postpone a mega concert and a two-match T20I series between a World XI and
Asia XI to mark the 100th birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
England cricket team left Sri Lanka before the series could begin while
New Zealand has called off the series against hosts Australia midway. The ODI
series between South Africa and hosts India has also been cancelled half way
through while the India Premier League T20 is now to raise curtain on April
15 instead of March 29.
In the ongoing edition of the Pakistan Super League T20 in Pakistan, at
least 10 overseas cricketers have left the tournament before completion with
rising concern of the virus that has been termed ‘pandemic’ by WHO [World
Health Organization].
BSS/SMP/BZC/1525HRS