BCB yet to make call on DRS for Australia series

Bangladesh and Australia will battle it out against each other in the five-match T20I series starting from August 3. Both the teams are expected to arrive at Dhaka on Thursday, July 29, and will undergo a three-day room quarantine period at the hotel. However, ahead of the series, the Bangladesh Cricket Board has to deal with the major concern of the Decision Review System (DRS).

The BCB has not yet given the green signal for the DRS ahead of the T20I series between Bangladesh and Australia. The crew of the International Cricket Council (ICC) is yet to be arrived in the nation to conduct the DRS. Meanwhile, the Covid-19 protocols will further stretch concerns as even if the crew arrives, they might need to undergo the 14-day quarantine period.

However, Debashish Chowdhury, the chief physician of the BCB asserted that the period for the quarantine has however been reduced with the special authorization of the government. “The broadcaster is ready. Now an ICC technical crew has not yet arrived. If he comes we can conduct the DRS. We are ready to manage the DRS, it all depends on the crew,” BCB chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury told Cricfrenzy.

Covid-19 adding to the challenges of the Bangladesh-Australia series

Cricket is played under strict restrictions all around owing to the ongoing pandemic. Amidst these challenging situations, it becomes difficult to travel considering the Covid-19 protocols and the limitations. Though the broadcast group has arrived in Bangladesh for the conduct of the series, the team had to take a roadway for it. As the pandemic has posed travel constraints the air route wasn’t possible which led the team to travel Bangladesh through the Akhaura border.

“The crew has arrived here by road. They drove past the Akhaura border with special permission from the authorities. They are currently quarantined at the hotel. Because there are restrictions on air travel, they arrived by road,” explained Nizamuddin.

About the series, Bangladesh’s opening batter Liton Das has been ruled out of the series due to personal reasons. Whereas Soumya Sarkar and Shakib Al Hasan are said to be looking after their respective groin niggles. The first match of the series will be played on August 3 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.