DHAKA, March 21, 2020 (BSS)- As it was predicted, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and Cricket Ireland reached a consensus to postpone the Bangladesh’s tour of Ireland in May.
Bangladesh was scheduled to play a three-match ODI series in Belfast and four-match T20 series in four venues of England in this tour.
The tour has been postponed due to growing concern on coronavirus pandemic around the world. Cricket Ireland in a press release on Saturday announced the decision that has come jointly with BCB.
“Cricket Ireland and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have agreed to postpone the planned seven-match men’s series between the two sides scheduled to be played in Belfast and England in May 2020,” said the statement from Cricket Ireland.
“In line with advice from both Irish and UK governments around international travel, sporting events and mass gatherings, the two Boards had agreed that the series should be postponed given the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and anticipated timeframes,” the statement added.
Cricket Ireland chief executive officer Warren Deutrom said it became increasingly unlikely that this series could proceed as scheduled given the situation on the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Once the scale of the COVID-19 pandemic was understood, and the advice of both Governments and partner boards was sought, it became increasingly unlikely that this series could proceed as scheduled.
We have a responsibility to protect the well-being of players, coaches, fans and the wider community, and will not hesitate to take a safety-first approach to our operations over coming months,” said Deutrom in the statement.
“We will continue monitoring the situation, and will liaise as necessary with relevant sports bodies, public health agencies and our stakeholders here and abroad, and provide further updates on the home season in due course,” he added.
“We would like to thank the Bangladesh Cricket Board for their helpful cooperation in reaching this decision, and we shall work with them at establishing new dates for the series when we are all in a position to plan for the future with greater certainty,” concluded Cricket Ireland CEO.
Earlier, Bangladesh had its last part of the three-phase tour of Pakistan postponed for same reason.