Bangladesh’s Test series against Zimbabwe postponed
THE Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has decided to defer the Test series against Zimbabwe to prepare for next year’s Asia Cup and World Twenty20.
Zimbabwe were scheduled to visit Bangladesh in January 2016 for a two-Test series. The BCB had earlier curtailed the series, originally planned as a three-Test tour in September, for the same reason.
“We have two important T20 tournaments ahead of us – the Asia Cup and World Cup. Preparing for them is more important. Many Test players are not in the T20 team. So playing Tests during that time won’t help them,” BCB president Nazmul Hassan said.
Bangladesh have no matches scheduled for a while after the World T20. The board would try to organise the bilateral series sometime then, added the BCB chief.
Bangladesh have been placed with Ireland, the Netherlands and debutants Oman in Group A of the first round of the World T20 tournament that will be played in India.
The winners of the two groups join the top eight in the Super 10 stage. Bangladesh will be grouped with India, Pakistan, Australia and New Zealand if they progress beyond the first round.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s ODI captain, Azhar Ali, and opening batsman Mohammad Hafeez agreed yesterday to join a cricket training camp after previously staying away to protest the inclusion of Mohammad Amir, who served a ban for spot fixing.
The Pakistan Cricket Board included Amir among the 26 players selected for the camp after the fast bowler completed his rehabilitation programme, having served a five-year ban for bowling deliberate no-balls in a Test against England in 2010.
Both senior cricketers expressed their concerns about Amir in a meeting with PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan before agreeing to join the camp.
“I respect their concerns, but some of them, I told them, are not acceptable,” Khan said. “They understood and confirmed that they are on the same page with us and now we are looking forward to the success of the team.”
Both players were due at the camp last Thursday, but refused to do so, with Ali reportedly saying that he would not attend as long as Amir was there.
Amir came to the attention of selectors for January’s limited-overs tour to New Zealand after claiming 14 wickets in Bangladesh’s domestic T20 league earlier this month.
The PCB said Amir was eligible for national selection after serving his punishment. “It is their responsibility – Azhar as captain and Hafeez as a senior player – to take him (Amir) like family,” Khan said.
In November, Hafeez reportedly refused to join Bangladesh’s Chittagong Vikings, where Amir played.
“I have forgiven all who have damaged the integrity of Pakistan cricket through corruption, but I am against corruption and will hold this stance forever,” Hafeez said. – African News Agency and AP