Only Canada could play

In response to coach Jamie Siddons's desire for the national team to play some more international matches before the 2011 World Cup, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) yesterday revealed that it might be possible to arrange some matches against Canada.
According to the existing schedule, the Tigers will play two warm-up games -- against Canada on February 12 and Pakistan on February 15 -- before taking on India in the opening match of the showcase event on February 19 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
"We also feel that it would be better if we could play some international matches before the World Cup and accordingly we are communicating with different countries. But the chance is very slim to get any team," said Enayet Hossain Siraj, chairman of BCB's cricket operations committee yesterday.
"We are however trying to bring Canada earlier than the schedule so that we can play some more matches against them before the World Cup," he added.
BCB's media committee chairman Jalal Yunus said that they would continue their efforts to convince any team to play a series against the Tigers.
Bangladesh coach Siddons expressed his desire after the fourth match of the five-match series against Zimbabwe was washed out on Friday.
As per schedule the current series against the Africans is the last international engagement for Shakib Al Hasan's men, but the Tigers will get a chance to play the Premier Division Cricket League, which starts December 14.