Sylhet floated as warm-up alternative

The practice venue has suddenly become the centre of discussion ahead of the Bangladesh-Australia series. Australia were scheduled to play a two-day practice match at the Fatullah Cricket Stadium on August 22-23, but the venue is presently submerged and becomes waterlogged at the slightest hint of rain.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) put in an all-out effort to make the international venue fit for the tour game but with monsoon in full swing, many see little chance of that. The BCB has therefore been considering the BKSP in Savar as an alternative venue but the cricket operations committee chairman Akram Khan told reporters during the practice match in Chittagong yesterday that Australia are not willing to go to BKSP.

Akram and BCB president Nazmul Hassan however informed that they were also considering the Sylhet International Stadium as another option.

“Australia expressed a desire to play this match at Mirpur but it's not possible because you cannot prepare a wicket for a Test within three days as the first Test will start from August 27. They are not interested about the BKSP due to the time factor but we will try to send them within an hour. They are yet to give their final opinion. We gave another option, which is Sylhet,” said Akram.