Australia’s 2020 Test series in Bangladesh confirmed

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has confirmed that they will host Australia for a couple of matches next year in the ICC World Test Championship. The games will take place in June-July 2020. Back in August-September 2017, the Aussies toured Bangladesh. The visitors lost the opening match in Dhaka by 20 runs, but came back with a seven-wicket victory in Chattogram.

The series also saw the Aussies losing for the second time to Bangladesh at the highest level after the ODI defeat at the Sophia Gardens in 2005. Last time around, it was Steve Smith, who captained Australia in the red-ball fixtures. Tim Paine helped the Aussies retain the Ashes recently, but it remains to be seen whether he remains as the skipper for the 10 months or not.

“We were supposed to host two Tests in February, but now the Test series will be played in June-July 2020,” Akram Khan, Bangladesh’s cricket operation chief, was quoted as saying by the local media.

T20I series postponed to 2021 before World Cup

Australia were also scheduled to play the Tigers in a T20I series next month. However, that has now been postponed and will take place in 2021 in the lead-in to the T20 World Cup in India.

“Initially, we were expecting to host Australia for a two-match Twenty20 International series in October, but now they have agreed to play three T20 internationals and it will be played ahead of the World T20 in India, though we are yet to finalise the date,” Akram added.

Peter Roach, the head coach of cricket operations in Cricket Australia (CA) sounded delighted with the tour. It will be Australia’s third Test tour to Bangladesh. Apart from the 2017 tour, Australia went to Bangladesh back in April 2006 and clean swept the two-match Test series.

“We are delighted to be touring Bangladesh in June 2020. The two boards felt this was a more beneficial timing for the two Test series than the original date. It should be a terrific series,” Roach mentioned.

After the Ashes, Australia are scheduled to play a couple of home Test series versus Pakistan and New Zealand. The Aussies are currently placed fourth on the points table in the World Test Championship.

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