COVID-19 Impact: Bangladesh's tour of Sri Lanka scheduled in July postponed

The International Cricket Council on Wednesday announced the postponement of Bangladesh's tour to Sri Lanka owing to the coronavirus pandemic. Bangladesh were scheduled to play three Tests in Sri Lanka which were to be a part of the ICC World Test Championship.

Sri Lanka Cricket was looking to restart its international season by hosting India and Bangladesh, but both tours have been postponed.

Bangladesh Cricket Board chairman Akram Khan had said that players were not too keen to tour Sri Lanka next month due to the Covid-19 threat and also because of their lack of preparation for the Test series.

“Yes we had spoken with some of the players and they did not show any interest. We cannot go there without proper preparation because it is a three match Test series.

"They players are out of cricket for



long time so after returning to cricket they will at least need 40 days training comprised with one month skill training following a 10 days fitness camp," Akram Khan had said.

Bangladesh's home Test series against New Zealand was also postponed earlier this month due to health and safety concerns amid the coronavirus crisis.

"In the present COVID-19 pandemic scenario, hosting a full cricket series in August 2020 will be a challenge in terms of preparations and we cannot take chances with the safety and health of players, support staff and related stakeholders," BCB chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury had said on June 23.

Bangladesh cricket has been hit hard by the virus after three of its players - former captain Mashrafe Mortaza, spinner Nazmul Islam and opener Nafees Iqbal tested positive for Covid-19 earlier this month.