Confusion over BAN v AUS warm-up game as Australia willing to play only at Mirpur

The upcoming two match Test series between Australia and Bangladesh has seen many dramas before a ball is actually bowled. The financial disputes in the Australian cricketing fraternity saw the series hang in uncertainty for a long time. There was some confusion regarding Australia’s availability for the tour as well. But the good news for the Bangladeshi cricket lovers was that all the confusion was eventually cleared out as the financial dispute of Australia was also settled.

That meant that the baggy greens would finally tour Bangladesh and they are training hard ahead of the series. Bangladesh are no longer a side that would mean a stroll in the park for the Aussies and they know it very well. But a new problem has arisen.

The kangaroos were expected to play a two-day warm-up game against the Tigers at Fatullah. But the ground condition in Fatullah is very poor as contaminated water from the adjoined factories has leaked inside the stadium. With the incessant rain, it is practically impossible for the BCB to make the venue ready for the match before the deadline.

Another headache for BCB

They have given two alternative options to Cricket Australia (CA)- BKSP in Savar and Sylhet International Stadium in Sylhet. But CA is not willing to send their players to either Savar or Sylhet and wants to play in Mirpur. But with the main match scheduled to be held in Mirpur, the BCB is not willing to allocate it for a practice game.

“Australia expressed a desire to play this match at Mirpur but it’s not possible because you cannot prepare a wicket for a Test within three days as the first Test will start from August 27. They are not interested about the BKSP due to the time factor but we will try to send them within an hour. They are yet to give their final opinion. We gave another option, which is Sylhet,” said the chairman of cricket operations committee, Akram Khan.

BCB media committee chairman Jalal Yunus said that they are trying their level best to get Fatullah ready for the game. “We are still trying to get Fatullah ready. We are using pumps to drain out the water. Fatullah was set as the venue for the practice match almost a year ago. As the rain falls every day, the situation is becoming more delicate.” said Jalal.

“The possibility (of the match being played in Fatullah) is falling, but we are thinking of alternative venues like the BKSP. We will hold talks with CA’s security team about the venue, whether we can have it somewhere other than Fatullah. If we can shorten the travel time to BKSP, maybe there can be a solution. Sylhet is also an option but we have to see how viable it can be,” he further added.

If in case Fatullah is not ready to host the match and CA stands firm in their decision of not playing in Savar and Sylhet, the ULAB ground in Mohammadpur, Dhaka can be used as the last resort.