Bangladesh to play tri-series in New Zealand as preparation for 2022 T20 World Cup

Bangladesh Cricket Board officials announced on Tuesday (May 17) that the national team will play a tri-nation series in New Zealand to conclude their preparations for the ICC T20 World Cup that is scheduled to take place in October this year.

The series will begin on October 7 or 8 in Christchurch, with New Zealand and Pakistan as the other participating sides.. It will be Bangladesh’s final T20 international project before the commencement of the 2022 World Cup in Australia.

“The tri-series in New Zealand will be our last international T20 assignment before the ICC WCT20. Though it is yet to be finalized (the third team of the tri-series) but most probably Pakistan will be the other team apart from the host New Zealand,” BCB cricket operation chairman Jalal Yunus was quoted by Cricbuzz.

Bangladesh will train in Adelaide for around a week before departing for Christchurch for the tri-series. The visitors are scheduled to play a few T20s against the Australian domestic squad during their camp in Adelaide. Apart from the Asia Cup, Bangladesh will undertake a three-match T20 series against the West Indies and Zimbabwe before heading to Adelaide for the final leg of their World Cup campaign.

BCB uncertain about Tamim Iqbal’s participation

Yunus also said that Tamim Iqbal’s inclusion in the squad will be doubtful, given that the player had announced a six-month break from the shortest format of the game. The decision on Iqbal’s selection for the World Cup will be taken at a later stage depending upon his availability in that period.

”Tamim Iqbal is one of the senior players in our side and he understands his position better than anyone else. You all know we had a meeting with him regarding this. He had told you (media) exclusively about his plan and now what we have to say,” Jalal stated.

After completing the six months period he will officially tell you about his decision and you will know through him about his plan and I cannot say anything about it. We have tried during the last three to four months and he said that he had taken the decision considering his career and future and we pay full respect to that,” he added.