Visiting New Zealand are facing a prospect of going into the five-match one-day series against Bangladesh without any match practice after toady’s first warm-up match was cancelled due to an unplayable ground condition.
Match referee Roquibul Hassan along with two other New Zealand team officials inspected the BKSP pitch and found it was soggy because of rain.
They decided to call off today’s match as many parts of outfield were under ankle-deep water. It was learnt that the officials were also doubtful about Sunday’s second and final warm-up match at the same venue.
Facing the bleak prospect, New Zealand have requested to arrange a warm-up match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Saturday, but the officials of the Bangladesh Cricket Board were undecided about it.
The request became a difficult one for the BCB officials as they are already struggling with a lack of quality players for the second warm-up match.
Most of the players will leave Dhaka on Saturday to join their respective divisional sides for the opening matches of the National Cricket League, which will start on October 4, making it a tough task for the BCB.
Earlier, the BCB XI players, who had reported to the manager at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in the afternoon without any practice after they were informed of the decision
BCB XI skipper Mohammad Ashraful wanted to use the first warm-up match to boost the morale of the national side ahead of the five-match one-day series beginning on October 5.
