BCB hopeful of Australia series going on as planned

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) was hopeful of the upcoming home series against Australia taking place despite the Australian media saying otherwise. Reports today said that Australia's tours of Windies and Bangladesh were in doubt after the second ODI between Australia and West Indies at Barbados was cancelled due to a Windies support staff testing positive for Covid-19.

The match today at Barbados was all set to get underway and the teams had tossed before the players and officials were taken back to their hotels and placed in isolation.

"Many media have said that there is doubt about the series but there has been no communication from Cricket Australia after the cancellation of the second ODI today. Hopefully the series will begin on time," BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury told The Daily Star today.

Communication with Cricket Australia took place on Thusday and no doubt was expressed, with Cricket Australia satisfied with biosecurity arrangements.

"In the new normal everyone is facing such situations and we don't know how they are managing it from afar. But BCB have ensured that we can hold a series during these times. I talked to CA CEO on Thursday and they were very positive. If there were any immediate decision then we would have been informed," Nizamuddin added.

Bangladesh have successfully hosted West Indies and Sri Lanka during the pandemic and also hosted domestic tournaments like the BCB President's Cup and Bangabandhu T20 Cup tournament before the Dhaka Premier League was completed ahead of the ongoing tour against Zimbabwe. Cricket Australia had wanted that BCB arrange the matches in one venue and with all the matches set to be played at Dhaka, the arrangements would be far more convenient to organize. Australia are expected to arrive in Dhaka on July 29th and start training following three-day quarantine before the first T20I on August 3rd.