BCB to host four-nation ODI tournament in November

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is planning to organize a four-nation ODI tournament later this year, according to Nazmul Hassan. Hassan, who is the president of the BCB, said the tournament could feature West Indies, Pakistan and Zimbabwe along with the host nation Bangladesh. Whether the tournament will take place or not it will highly depend on other teams’ schedule.

Looking at the draft of the ICC’s Future Tours Programme, it seems that the tournament has very less possibility to be taken place as West Indies and Pakistan may remain busy till November. On the other hand, in the draft there is no series between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.

Hassan has taken the willingness of more teams to tour Bangladesh positively. Bangladesh is expected to play home series against Pakistan, India, South Africa and Australia till October this year. They will also host the Under-19 World Cup early next year. The BBC is also thinking about recommencing of the Bangladesh Premier League this year.

In order to improve their position in the ranking ahead of the Champions Trophy and World Cup, Bangladesh cricket team wants to play more ODI matches. 

BCB will give proposal to India to play three ODIs

Bangladesh cricket team is scheduled to play one Test match against India later this year, but Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is interested to organize three ODIs instead of one Test. That is why, they are going to put forward this proposal to Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). However, Nazmul Hassan, the BCB president, did not tell the reason behind the board’s decision of choosing shorter format rather than one Test.

As per new FTP cycle, India will travel to Bangladesh in 2014, 2015 and 2020, while Bangladesh will travel to India to play their first ever Test in 2016, confirmed by Nazmul in February last year.

According to Nazmul, Bangladesh cricket team will have a very busy time this year. They will play full series against Pakistan, South Africa and Australia. The tigers will play a Test against India in Eden Gardens in 2016.

In 2015, Bangladesh cricket team will play only seven Test matches and probably they will play 60 Tests till 2022 in the new FTP cycle. The main challenge for them is to secure their position among the top eight teams in the ICC ODI rankings within September 30 in order to qualify for the 2017 Champions Trophy. So, they will prefer playing more ODIs this year. 

BCB announces a 15-man ODI squad against the West Indies

Ahead of the three-match ODI series taking place next month in the Caribbean, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced a 15-man squad on Thursday.

There was no surprise inclusion in this squad. Opening batsman Imrul Kayes was recalled to the squad as a replacement of all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who is banned for six months after threatening to quit international cricket.

Shakib Al Hasan, nation’s leading wicket-taker in Test history, appealed to the board against his ban, but he was said by the BCB officials that his request would only be considered after the West Indies tour.

Undoubtedly there will be no replacement for Shakib Al Hasan. He can play both as batsman and bowler. As Bangladesh cricket team does not have shortage of spinner, they have decided to choose a batsman in his place.

The first two ODIs between Bangladesh and West Indies will be played at Grenada on August 20 and 22 and the third ODI will be played at St. Kitts on August 25. After the ODI series, these two teams will also play a Twenty20 International and two Test matches.

Bangladesh cricket team will leave for the Caribbean on August 13.

Bangladesh ODI squad against the West Indies: Mushfiqur Rahim (Captain & wicket keeper), Anamul Haque, Shamsur Rahman, Mominul Haque, Nasir Hossain, Imrul Kayes, Tamim Iqbal, Mohammad Mahmudullah, Mohammad Mithun, Abdur Razzak, Sohag Gazi, Mashrafe Mortaza, Taskin Ahmed, Rubel Hossain, and Al-Amin Hossain. 

Sri Lanka agrees to send their team to Bangladesh

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has got a positive signal from the International Cricket Council (ICC) to welcome Sri Lanka to play in a bilateral series at the end of January. This decision has been finalized in a meeting between officials of the two boards in Dubai on Thursday. The home series against Sri Lanka was full of uncertainty due to the political turmoil inside the country. Acting Media and Communication President of BCB, Jalal Yunus, has confirmed this news.

This bilateral series, which is scheduled to start on 27 January, consists of two Tests, two T20s and three ODIs. However, SLC will send a security team on 13 January.  

BCB announces incentive to draw a Test match

Bangladesh cricket team’s tour of Sri Lanka will kick off on 8 March with the first Test match against the host nation at the Galle International Stadium. It is going to be a very tough tour series for the touring nation.

However, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced some financial incentives to inspire the national cricket team to perform well against the strong opponent team. The team will be given money for drawing every Test match.

BCB has increased the amount of their financial incentives. According to the BCB, for each drawn Test match, the team will get an extra Tk 100,000 ($1250) besides the Tk 150,000 ($1875) that they will receive as Test match fee, which has also been increased from Tk 100,000 ($1250).

Not only Test match fees but also their match fees in ODIs were also increased from Tk 60,000 ($750) to Tk 100,000 ($1250) for each game. Players will also get Tk 50,000 ($625) after being previously paid Tk 35,000 ($438) for every game.

Bangladesh cricket team does not have any good record in the Test cricket history. In their last 13 seasons, the team drew only seven games. Their last draw came against West Indies due to bad weather. Their only drawn Test match that came without the aid of stormy weather was against Zimbabwe in 2005.

BCB cancel Pakistan tour over security concern

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) members have taken decision to put on hold of their Pakistan tour regarding the security situation.

The decision to not send Bangladesh cricket team to Pakistan now has come as a great relief for millions of supporters. BCB chief, Nazmul Hassan, told reporters in Dhaka, “Bangladesh will not visit Pakistan for now.”

Board members have come to a decision after taking into an account of the overall security situation in Pakistan and the concern that Bangladeshi people have expressed over the safety of their players.

Bangladesh was scheduled to play a T20 and an ODI match on January 12 and 13 respectively. Both of the matches were scheduled to be held in Lahore.

Because of the political instability, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had to organize their home matches in different venues in abroad ranging from Dubai to London since 2009 when gunmen attacked in Sri Lanka cricket team’s bus in Lahore. In this incident, eight people were killed and seven Sri Lankan players were wounded.

On December 22, Zaka Ashraf, chairman of the PCB, said that their Bangladeshi corresponding had confirmed that the tour was absolutely on.

According to Hassan, BCB had informed the Pakistan board about their change of decision. He said, “We've sent a letter to Pakistan three days ago explaining our position. We've decided to wait and see.”

So, Bangladesh’s tour of Pakistan is facing uncertainty. It is not sure if they will visit Pakistan or not.

Pakistan players receive their full due payment from BCB

After receiving a legal action threat from the Federation of International Cricketers Association (FICA), the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has finally cleared the non-payment of dues to Pakistan cricket players who took part in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

It seems that BCB was forced to clear the dues of Pakistan cricket players after Tim May, chief executive of FICA, sent a layer to BCB president Mustafa Kamal a few days ago asking him to clear the dues of all overseas and local players who took part in the BPL within five days or face legal action.

Shahid Afridi who was one of the most expensive players purchased in the players’ bid for the tournament said on Tuesday that he had finally received his full dues two days back from the BPL.

Afridi who was purchased of around USD 700,000 in the bid had just played in the semi-final and final for Dhaka Gladiators and enjoyed his experience of playing in the BPL.

However, FICA had come forward to take the action against BCB after several overseas players who took part in the BPL complained of not getting their full payments within 45 days after the last match of the BPL.

BCB wants to play five T20Is instead of five ODIs

Bangladesh cricket board is now keen on playing five T20 internationals against Ireland as the preparation for the upcoming ICC World T20 that will be held in Sri Lanka in September. However, according to the earlier planned schedule they were supposed to play five ODI matches in their trip to Ireland in late July.

This change of plan has been revealed by Jalal Yunus, the BCB media committee chairman, yesterday after the emergency meeting of the board of directors at the BCB headquarters in Mirpur.

No doubt, it is a very good decision as it will help the Bangladeshi players to be prepared for the ICC World T20. But the question is that if it is possible for them to arrange T20 series.

Jalal Yunus said that if they did not agree to host the T20 series then they will play the series at a suitable time after the World Cup.

ICC World T20 is not very far. This time it will be organized by Sri Lanka in September.

There is some good news for domestic players. The Dhaka Premier Division Cricket Super League is going to start again on May 31 after a two-month suspension after the board has approved the president’s decision.