Bangladesh Lines Up Seven Red-Ball Games for World Test Championship Focus

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has meticulously planned a series of seven red-ball matches for the Bangladesh Test team, signaling a shift in focus from T20Is to the World Test Championship (WTC) for the remainder of the year. Bangladesh has four crucial Test series remaining in their 2023-25 WTC cycle against Pakistan, India, South Africa, and West Indies.

To prepare for these challenging encounters, the Test cricketers will engage in three four-day matches in Chattogram next month. These home matches will be followed by two four-day fixtures against Pakistan A in Darwin from July 19 to 29. The Bangladesh A team will then embark on a tour to Pakistan in August for two additional four-day matches against the same opponents. New Zealand A is also expected to tour Bangladesh in August or September.

In addition to these matches, Bangladesh players have been diligently participating in training camps in Chattogram and Sylhet since May. BCB's cricket operations chairman, Jalal Yunus, expressed satisfaction with the progress made by the Test players in these camps. He emphasized that the four-day games against formidable opponents will provide invaluable experience ahead of the WTC matches.

"We aim to provide the best possible preparation for our players before the demanding Test schedule in the coming months," Yunus stated. "The rest is up to the players. I have been closely monitoring the Bangladesh Tigers camp, and I am pleased with their progress."

The Bangladesh senior men's team is expected to depart for Pakistan on August 17 for two Tests, with venues and dates yet to be announced. Following the Pakistan series, they will face India in two Tests in Chennai and Kanpur, accompanied by three T20Is.

Bangladesh may potentially tour India twice in three months if the BCB accepts the Afghanistan Cricket Board's revised schedule for two white-ball series in late July. The ACB has proposed playing three ODIs and three T20Is in Greater Noida. This tour was initially postponed in March due to Bangladesh's busy schedule in 2024, but with the Champions Trophy now on their agenda, the BCB is considering the tour, given that they have only three ODIs scheduled between now and next February.

Sources indicate that the series is still under discussion, as the BCB has reservations about playing in Noida during July due to unfavorable weather conditions.

After the bilateral series in India in September, Bangladesh will host South Africa for two home Tests in October. They will then tour West Indies for a full series in November and December.

Tags: #BangladeshCricket, #WorldTestChampionship, #TestCricket, #Pakistan, #India