Australia’s two-Test tour of Bangladesh scheduled for June 2020 has been indefinitely postponed, amid the Coronavirus pandemic that has bought sports across the world to a screeching halt. The two cricket boards – CA and BCB – unanimously took the decision to reschedule the tournament, with the latter confirming the decision via a media release on Thursday afternoon. The two boards will now find a future window to play the series, which is part of the ICC World Test Championship.
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“This is understandably disappointing for players and fans of both sides. However, in the current global scenario of the COVID-19 outbreak and considering the nature of the health emergency, the BCB and CA are in agreement that this is the most sensible and practical decision,” BCB CEO Nizam Uddin Chowdhury said. “We hope that the situation will improve soon and we are able to hold this series at a convenient time in the near future. To that end, the BCB will continue to work closely with CA with whom we share a history of support and cooperation.”
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Australia were scheduled to play the two Tests in Chittagong and Dhaka from June 11 and June 19 respectively with a four-day tour game pencilled in before the opener. Incidentally, this series was originally scheduled to be played in early February but the two boards had decided to push it back by four months in September last year. Australia last toured Bangladesh in 2017 for two Tests, the first of which they lost at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Dhaka.
Commenting on the postponement, Cricket Australia CEO Kevin Roberts said: “Postponing the tour is regrettable, but I would like to thank the Bangladesh Cricket Board for the open, honest and responsible discussions that led us to this mutually-agreed position. The health of our people and communities is the number one priority for both Boards and that is reflected in the action we have taken in postponing the two Test matches. As we know, the global cricket calendar is very busy but we will do everything we can to honour our commitment to Bangladesh and will continue to work with the BCB on an agreed date.”
Bangladesh were scheduled to tour Ireland and England before their home series against Australia and that short white-ball series against Ireland – featuring three ODIs in Belfast and four T20Is in England – has already been postponed.
