BCB to ensure same bio-bubble for Kiwis

Bangladesh Cricket Board will replicate the bio-bubble arrangements they provided for Australia in the recently concluded series in the forthcoming home series against New Zealand
The home of cricket in Mirpur once again returned to its usual business. The cricketers started the optional individual training session ahead of the upcoming home series against New Zealand set to begin next month.
Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das who missed out on the historic five-match T20I series against Australia at home are gearing up for the return and spent time at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium alongside Soumya Sarkar and Shamim Hossain yesterday.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board has successfully hosted three international series since the pandemic started last year and the board is all set to host the fourth international series with the Kiwis scheduled to arrive in the country on August 24.
Meanwhile, the New Zealand Cricket [NZC] has requested the BCB to provide Covid-19 safety protocol similar to what was in place for the Australian cricket team’s visit earlier this month.
BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury informed the board is making an effort to create a similar environment for the New Zealand cricket team.
“They have been requesting us to provide the same bio-bubble protocol that was in place for Australia. We will also try to create a similar environment. Like I have said before, the bio-bubble was not to keep only Australia or now New Zealand team safe but our team too. Considering all the facts and practicality we will try to create a complete bio-bubble environment and complete this series too successfully,” Nizamuddin told media at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
There will, however, be a change in protocol at the airport in Dhaka this time around where Australia had reached Bangladesh on a chartered flight but New Zealand will be travelling on a commercial carrier.
“New Zealand will be travelling to Dhaka on a commercial flight. So the protocol at the airport will not be the same as it was for Australia. Australia had travelled to Dhaka on a chartered flight. But we will make effort to minimise public contact with the New Zealand team at the airport and transfer them quickly to the hotel. We are planning on it,” he added.
As part of the safety protocols, the tourists have discouraged playing the scheduled warm-up game ahead of the series which was set to take place in BKSP on August 29. All the matches of the five-match series will be played at the SBNS behind closed doors starting from September 1, 3, 5, 8 and 10 respectively.
“When we travel to another country, we look for facilities and practice match to get the team with the foreign condition. Based on this we had offered New Zealand for a practice match [at BKSP]. But this will require an additional bio-bubble at the venue. So they are discouraging this and are pressing for limited movement in Dhaka and successfully complete the series,” said Nizamuddin.
According to the BCB CEO considering the viewership and the local time of New Zealand in mind the board is planning to start the matches at 4 pm local time.