Windies set to land today

International cricket is set to finally resume in Bangladesh after the outbreak of Covid-19, with a 38-member West Indies team scheduled to reach Dhaka on Sunday morning for a month-long tour.

However, the visitors are coming with an inexperienced squad after top cricketers such as Jason Holder, Kieron Pollard and Darren Bravo pulled out citing COVID-19-related concerns or personal fears.

The West Indies side will arrive in Dhaka with Covid-19 negative reports and will undergo their first of many coronavirus tests on the first day of their three-day isolation in the hotel.

After completing the three-day isolation and before being allowed in the nets at the Academy Ground of the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on the fourth day, the visitors will have to clear another Covid-19 test. The samples will be collected on the third day of quarantine. During those four days, the West Indies side can practise only among themselves.

After undergoing three tests in seven days since their arrival, the Bangladesh Cricket Board will provide net bowlers and the visitors will be able to interact with others. The West Indies team is also scheduled to play a one-day warm-up game at BKSP Ground 3 on January 18.

The Caribbean side will reach Bangladesh on the back of a Covid-19 scare after fast bowling all-rounder Romario Shepherd had tested positive. He was replaced with Keon Harding in the one-day squad.

The first phase of Covid-19 testing among Bangladesh players, and officials returned negative results.

Meanwhile a 24-member Bangladesh ODI squad will have their first practice session today and later check into to the hotel and remain in the bio-secure bubble throughout the series.

Bangladesh cricketers will take part in two intra-squad warm-up matches on January 14 and January 16 at BKSP following which the final ODI squad is likely to be announced on January 17.

Bangladesh have not played international cricket since March last year. However, the board did arrange competitive domestic events. In October last year, the board arranged the BCB President's Cup —a three-team fifty over competition -- which was followed by a five-team Bangabandhu T20 Cup in November-December.

The first two matches of the ODI series will be played on January 20 and 22 in Dhaka while the third ODI will be played at Chattogram's Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on January 25.

The first Test will begin on February 3 at the ZACS while the second and final Test of the series will be played in Dhaka from February 11.