BCB XI - Australia warm up cancelled

The warm up game between BCB XI and Australia which was scheduled to start on 22nd August has been cancelled. Australia have decided not to play the game as Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has failed to manage the ground for the encounter.

Steve Smith led side was supposed to play their practice match at Fatullah’s Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium. But heavy rainfall almost made the stadium a ‘pool’. Despite the water being dried up, the bad smell due to waterlogging in the surroundings of the stadium forced the Aussies to decide against playing in Fatullah.

Australia denied playing on the alternative grounds

BCB proposed Australia played at Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan in Savar. But Australian players decided against it considering the distance they would have to travel. ULAB field in Mohammadpur was also proposed to the visitors by the board. But they didn’t agree as it doesn’t have much facilities.

The cancellation of the only warm up game might trouble Aussies in the Test series as they will now play directly in Mirpur where the first Test match will take place. It has also been reported that Australia wanted to play at Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur ahead of the opening encounter. But BCB didn’t agree to use the Mirpur field 4-5 days before the Test match begins.

Australia players will now practice at BCB Academy Ground in Mirpur on August 22 and 23. The first of the two match Test series is set to commence from August 27. The second and the final match will be played from September 4th at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong.

The visiting side though will be confident of a good show as they played magnificently in the 4-match Test series in India. They played really well and put India under pressure throughout the series only to lose the series marginally by 2-1. The side are playing in Bangladesh after a long time and the hosts are expected to give a tough fight to the former world number 1 side.