Australia to tour Bangladesh for a five-match T20I series in August

Australia are all set to tour Bangladesh in August for a five-match T20I series. Earlier, the Aussies were scheduled to play three games on the tour, but Cricket Australia (CA) have agreed to the increase in matches.

The development was put forth by Akram Khan, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) cricket operations chairman. Keeping in mind the T20 World Cup later this year, Bangladesh have also dropped one Test from their tour of Zimbabwe and added one additional T20I.

The Tigers will play one Test, three ODIs and as many T20Is in Zimbabwe in the month of June. Bangladesh are also scheduled to host New Zealand and England later between August and October.

Akram Khan puts forth Bangladesh’s schedule

“As you may have known, Australia have agreed to increase their T20I series from three to five matches. It will be held over eight or nine days. We are trying to be well prepared for the World Cup T20,” Khan was quoted as saying on Tuesday, May 25, ESPNcricinfo reported.

“There were also two Tests against Zimbabwe, so we reduced it and added a T20I in its place. I am however not aware about how long the quarantine (in Zimbabwe) is going to be, but it won’t be too tough,” he stated.

Khan also mentioned that Bangladesh won’t be playing any cricket in the time for the postponed Asia Cup. Their cricketers will be focussing on the Dhaka Premier League, scheduled to get underway on May 31, Khan, also a former Bangladesh cricketer, added.

“We have a pretty packed scheduled. We will have club cricket after this (Sri Lanka) series. We will go to Zimbabwe, and afterwards we have Australia and New Zealand coming up. We also have to keep the cricketers’ bio-bubble and quarantine in mind. It is not always good to play a lot of cricket, so we have to think about our schedule after this series,” he said.

Tamim Iqbal and Co are currently busy taking part in the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, captained by Kusal Perera. In 2021, apart from the Lankans, Bangladesh have also played against West Indies at home and against New Zealand in an away ODI and T20I series.