Bangladesh’s revelation that India will host them for a full international series in December raised quite a few eyebrows as it remained unclear of how India would accommodate them in their crowded international schedule. The Bangladesh Cricket Board in a statement on Monday said its president AHM Mustafa Kamal had a favourable discussion with his Indian counterpart during his recent visit and that he ‘received assurance that India will host Bangladesh for a full tour later this year.’
No official word came from Board of Control for Cricket in India through any channel following the statement, which has taken aback many in both countries given India already have a tight schedule.
The world champions will play non-stop cricket from coming August to April, which means it will be extremely difficult for them to find a window for their less fancied neighbour.
India are due to host New Zealand in August-September for three Tests, take part in the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka in September-October before their players get themselves engaged in Champions League Twenty20 tournament.
An intriguing four-match Test series against England will follow in November-December when India will go all-out to avenge their last year’s 4-0 drubbing that saw them losing their number one crown.
England’s India tour also includes seven one-day internationals and a Twenty20 international. According to International Cricket Council’s new Future Tour Programme England’s India tour will end in January.
It means India will be engaged against England from November to January and worse for Bangladesh is that this high-profile series will be replaced by another icon series in February when Australia will tour India.
The Aussies will play four Tests in India, which will be another revenge mission for the home side. India lost to Australia 4-0 earlier this year and it will now be their turn to return it back to Australia.
BCB spokesman Jalal Yunus, quoting Kamal, said India has promised to accommodate Bangladesh between the Test and one-day series against England in December, but still it remained a big question if they will want to risk their players of being injured before the Australia series.
Given the track record of Kamal, who has a tendency of providing contradicting statements to media, BCB’s decision of issuing a media release based on his words also came as a surprise to many.
‘We have full confidence in our president and he has informed the Board that India tour is all but certain,’ said Yunus. ‘The two boards will very soon finalise the details of the tour and sign an agreement.’
Yunus also hoped that it will not be a short trip for the Tigers and will rather include two Tests, three ODIs and a T20 International.
‘We have a plan to include all three formats in the series. Let see how we can do this,’ he said.
Meanwhile, Pakistani media already started alleging that Bangladesh’s planned India tour is a reward to them for declining the tour to their country.
PakTribune.com under a headline of ‘BD to visit India in Dec, Pak ignored’ reported that anti-Pakistan Indian cricket lobby dominated the Bangladesh Cricket Board as BCB decided to visit India in December.
The BCB however said they are yet to take any decision on Pakistan tour.
-With New Age input
