Australian’s lone tour match canceled

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DHAKA, Aug. 21, 2017, (BSS)- The lone two-day practice match between the Australia and the BCB XI was called as the Fatullah Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Cricket Stadium is not ready yet, after contaminated water flooded the ground following heavy rain in the recent weeks.

The Australian side will now continue using facilities at the academy ground of Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNCS) in Mirpur for their build-up to the first Test against Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Cricket Board media manager Rabid Imam told BSS that the tour match has been cancelled as the ground is not ready for play and the touring side will be practicing on a regular basis at the academy ground in Mirpur.

Australian coach Darren Lehmann and team’s captain Steve Smith visited Fatullah stadium this morning. The touring side finally made the call to cancel the practice match after the outfield and other part of the venue was still waterlogged. Lehmann confirmed the news via a press conference held at SBNCS today.

The Australia team management had earlier inspected two other grounds in the capital. They didn’t want to play in BKSP, 30km from the team hotel, due to the travelling time, while the ULAB ground lacked adequate facilities.

The visitors had played an intra-squad warm-up game in Darwin prior to their departure. The first Test against Bangladesh will begin on August 27 in Dhaka.