Cox’s Bazar stadium is set to host its maiden first-class cricket match when Bangladesh A team take on their Zimbabwean counterparts in the first of their two four-day matches, beginning from today. The stadium became the eighth cricket venue of the country and was inaugurated during the 2014 ICC World Twenty20 with some of the matches of the women’s category followed by some domestic first-class matches.
As the battle commence between the two second string sides, the players from both the teams will be eager to prove their worth in order to get into the national team for the upcoming series between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in October.
‘Definitely it will be crucial for some of the players as their performance will be evaluated when the squad for the Zimbabwe series will be announced,’ Bangladesh Cricket Board’s chief selector Faruk Ahmed told reporters at Cox’s Bazar on Saturday.
‘They can always make a strong claim with their performance and we are looking forward to it,’ said Faruk.
Former Test cricketer Naeem Islam will lead the home side which also includes ex-Test players like Marshall Ayub, Roqibul Hasan and pace bowler Shahadat Hossain.
Zimbabwe A team skipper Vusi Sibanda, a former Test cricketer himself, also agreed with Faruk and emphasised on the importance of the series.
‘This series will give us a chance to get adapted to the local conditions prior to the series against the national team,’ said Sibanda.
-With New Age input
