MD ABU TALHA SARKER, Dhaka: Bangladesh cricket’s governing body the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has chalked out plans for the next 2021-22 year with all three formats of the game after the coronavirus-infected 2020 that effectively created a sheer sort of uncertainty across the world.
BCB showed its diplomatic prowess along with international clout to organise a slew of international series and tournaments during the period beside games under the Future Tour’s Programme (FTP).
As scheduled, Bangladesh will host India in 2022 and Pakistan in 2021 respectively. India will visit Bangladesh in November, 2022 after a long hiatus. The visitors will remain present on December 16 after arriving on November 21 for two Tests and three one-day internationals (ODIs).
Bangladesh will play a total of 111 matches including 20 Tests, 35 ODIs and 56 T20Is in the two-year period. Of those, they will play 57 matches in 2021 and 54 in 2022 across the formats respectively during the compact schedule.
BCB has arranged a slew of international matches in all formats of the game outside the World Test Championship (WTC) and the newly-introduced ODI Super League based on consultations with different boards.
Even though a string of bilateral series has been suspended because of the devastating coronavirus pandemic, Bangladesh have been able to reschedule much of those. The series they are going to play in October-November in Sri Lanka against the hosts was suspended previously. But the series was finally rescheduled after holding effective talks between the BCB and its Lankan counterparts.
Bangladesh will play a total of nine bilateral series beside the ACC Twenty20 Asia Cup and the ICC World T20 in 2021. Bangladesh will play 11 series and tournaments in the 12-month span.
Of those, they will play 11 Tests coupled with 15 ODIs and at least 31 T20Is, but the number of T20 matches might be changed because of the two extravaganzas – T20 Asia Cup and World T20.
The BCB is also planning a tri-nation series. In that case, the number of matches might be changed.
West Indies will arrive in January for three Tests and as many ODIs beside two T20 International matches. The Tigers will start qualifying for the 2023 World Cup with the three-match ODI series against the Caribbean side.
Also, Bangladesh will travel to New Zealand for three-match ODI series and as many T20Is. The ODI series will also be a part of the qualifying round for the 2023 World Cup.
Sri Lanka will visit during May 18-29 for a three-match ODI series, which is also a part of the qualifying round for the 2023 World Cup. The series was scheduled to take place in December, but both the cricket boards deferred it to 2021.
Meanwhile, the T20 Asia Cup is slated to be held in June, 2021, where Bangladesh will play six matches in the light of the 2018 Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where they played the final.
Tigers will also fly to Zimbabwe in June for two Tests and three ODIs (June 18 to July 28). The ODI series is a part of the qualifying round for the 2023 World Cup.
Later, New Zealand will arrive in August for two Test matches after which Australia will come here in September (6-14) to play a three-match T20 series.
BCB is now mulling a T20 tri-nation series with participation of Australia and New Zealand, but they are yet to get any possible nod from the Cricket Australia (CA).
However, England will visit Bangladesh in September for three ODIs and as many T20Is. The ODI series will be a part of the qualifying round for the 2023 World Cup.
Bangladesh will later go to India in October to play the 2021 World Cup, where they will play at least eight matches.
Afterwards, Pakistan will come here in November for two Tests and three T20Is. The series is out of the WTC and the Super League. Bangladesh will organise these matches in consultation with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Later, Bangladesh will visit New Zealand in December for a two-Test series.
In 2022, Bangladesh will play nine Tests, 20 ODIs and 25 T20Is.
Afghanistan will visit Bangladesh in February for three ODIs and two T20Is. Later, South Africa will visit Bangladesh in March to play two Tests and three ODI matches. The ODI series will also be a part of qualifying round for the 2023 World Cup. It’ll virtually be the last series for Bangladesh to play the 2023 World Cup Qualifying round.
Sri Lanka will come to Bangladesh in May for two Tests. After that, Bangladesh will tour West Indies in June (9 to 29) for two Tests, three ODIs and as many T20Is and will also visit Zimbabwe in July for five ODIs and three T20Is.
Meanwhile, Asia Cup is scheduled in September (2-28), where Bangladesh are supposed to play at least six T20 matches.
New Zealand will come here in October (2-30) for one-off Test along with three ODIs and as many T20Is.
T20 World Cup in Australia is slated to begin in October-November, where Bangladesh are scheduled to play at least eight matches.
Year 2022 will end with the much-expected tour of India in Bangladesh. Neighbouring India will visit Bangladesh on November 21 and stay on December 16 for two Tests and three ODIs.
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