Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is set to play the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka ODI series towards the end of this month, with the first ODI to be played on May 23rd. BCB will have to plan the next two weeks wisely concerning players quarantining period and crew availability to conduct the ODI series smoothly.
Players quarantining problem is due to players returning from suspended IPL to Bangladesh who are – Mustafizur Rahman (Awaits results) and Shakib Al Hasan (Tested negative). It is still not clear that will these players undergo quarantine which is the norm for passengers arriving from India. They landed in Bangladesh on May 6th. So if they are to quarantine for 14 days, players are left with only two days before the first ODI on 23rd.
With Shakib testing negative and Rahman awaiting results, Bangladesh Cricket Board chief executive, Nizamuddin Chowdhury is working to shorten a long quarantine for a sportsperson.
“We are working step by step,” Chowdhury said. “Those coming from India have a different, more difficult protocol. We are hopeful of hearing a good result. One has to keep in mind that we are not getting any special privileges. International cricket has a different protocol during these times. Generally, a person who arrives in a passenger aircraft has to do one test and follow the government protocol. They don’t have to do another test.”
“Those taking part in sporting events have to follow a particular protocol, take those tests at the prescribed time. They can only take part when they are negative in those tests. It is not the same protocol for general people.”
Read More
The other major problem is broadcasting crew members, who may be hired from India or South Africa in absence of permanent media members. With no stable long-term media rights-holding plans, BCB will start bidding for the same on May 17. Also if crew members are from overseas, then they too have to undergo a two-week quarantine, having a space of only five days to the first ODI.
“This is a challenge. We are trying to work with the government protocol to bring the crew. We are also looking at other options. We might bring a crew from other countries where cricket is being currently played,” said Chowdhury.
Ruling out any possibility of rescheduling, he said, “There is no possibility of the series being rescheduled. Of course, there are challenges.”
Players who toured Sri-Lanka were in Bangladesh on May 4, so training can be started if they test negative, informed Chowdhury. “We have the green signal about the cricketers from Sri Lanka. We are hopeful that they can join training within a day or two after testing negative.”
A one-day practice match is scheduled to be played on May 21st. Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) was canceled last year due to COVID-19 and the unavailability of overseas players.
