Lanka tour not possible under SLC’s conditions: BCB president

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan said that the board were perplexed by the conditions that Sri Lanka had asked to be maintained for the Tigers' upcoming tour of the island nation. He reiterated that BCB were going to communicate that the tour was not possible under such protocols.

He said that the conditions put in place by the SLC for the tour under the coronavirus pandemic did not match BCB's expectations. "It's not as we expected and it didn't match the conditions of other countries where cricket is going on," Hassan told the media today.

Hassan primarily clarified two issues which led to BCB's current predicament with the tour going on.

"In other countries players have to quarantine for 7 days but the players can at least practice among themselves. They can use the gymnasium too, but under the SLC's conditions, the players can't even get out of their hotel rooms. They can't leave their room even for food. Maybe the Covid-19 situation there is not as we heard.

"Next, we at least need throwers, net bowlers for practice from the host country. They will not provide that and they will not allow us to take throwers and net bowlers from our country. This is an ICC Test Championship. I think there is a big gap in how we (the two boards) are thinking.

"Under no circumstances can a Test Championship take place with conditions such as this," Hassan added. "So we are going to let them know that a Test Championship is not possible under the conditions they have asked to be met. We will give them this message and then let's see what happens. The conditions that they are giving us is rare in history. That's the first message. If they want to discuss, then we will see what restrictions can be relaxed and discuss those things." 

Meanwhile, Namal Rajapaksa, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs of Sri Lanka, has urged the SLC to reconsider the matter.

The BCB now awaits a reply from SLC.