BCB now wants one Test match against Zimbabwe at home

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) backed out from their decision to play a Twenty20 series, shelving the Test series against Zimbabwe at its home in January. In an emergency meeting of the Cricket Operations, the policy makers of the board decided in principle to include a Test alongside three-match T20 series while Zimbabwe proposed to arrange a five-match T20 series in order to have a preparation for the World T20.
The inclusion of a Test came apparently in the wake of widespread criticism of not giving the longer version cricket, a format in which Bangladesh often found them in wanting, a due importance. Moreover Bangladesh often complained to ICC that they get less number of Test matches. According to the Cricket Operations Committee chairman Naimur Rahman Durjoy MP, shelving the Test would convey a different message to the ICC.
If everything goes as per the plan, the Zimbabwe is all set to arrive in Bangladesh after January 11. Since the Under-19 World Cup will be going on in Bangladesh in this period, the series against Zimbabwe is likely to be held in Khulna and Sylhet.
“Test is the most important place, if we play well here we can do well in all of the formats but one can’t say the same about the vice-versa. If we play Test cricket there is a good chance for practice and then we always talk about increasing Test cricket in the FTP and so if we still don’t play Test, and cut it then it might give a negative impact,” Durjoy, the first Test captain of Bangladesh, told the reporters yesterday.
“We have Zimbabwe series, which includes ODI, Test and T20. We have home and away both series’ against them. So we will try to accommodate as much as we can in these two series.”
The Cricket Operations chairman informed that they have three Tests pending against Zimbabwe and so they want to handle it better way.
“Actually we have three Tests from Zimbabwe if we can play one Test here and play two Tests in Zimbabwe during our away tour in June-July, then it will be handled better way. Their proposal is of five T20s, keeping the World T20 in mind but we want to play one Test and three T20Is, we will give them this proposal, if they agree then this will work,” he added.
Durjoy however dismissed the notion idea that the inclusion of Test match would prevent Bangladesh from taking a good preparation for World T20.
“All nations have World T20 and if you see, everyone is playing Tests and then everyone will play World Cup. You can’t do well in
Test by playing T20s only but by playing Test cricket you can do well in T20 matches,” he pointed out.
According to Durjoy, the Asia Cup will provide Bangladesh a good platform to have a genuine practice for World T20 even though they had to compromise with practice match schedule of World T20 due to the Asia Cup.
Bangladesh have scheduled practice matches for World T20 in March 4 and 6 but the final of the Asia Cup will be held on March 6 which is why they had to opt out the March 4 practice match. Durjoy said they kept the option of playing the March 6 practice match but it also would have to be dropped if they qualify into the final match.
He believed the acclimatization with the Dharmashala condition wouldn’t be tougher one for Bangladesh. Head coach Chandika Hathrusingha recommended for a practice camp in Dharmashala at the end of January but due to the tight schedule and the huge difference of weather in January and March, forced cricket operations to shelve the idea, said Durjoy.
 “The weather won’t allow us to acclimatise. And then they have the case of ground availability. The ICC wants to take over the grounds months before an event, so that is an issue as well.”
Apart from the Zimbabwe series and preparation for the World T20, the cricket operations also discussed about the national players contract. Durjoy hinted the salary of the national players would be increased as a result of their brilliant performance in 2015.
“We spoke about the national team’s player’s contract. There might be 15 players in the national contract. Normally, it does increase the salary, the last time though it didn’t enhance, and because the year has gone well, we want to give as much as possible. The increase will be based on the percentage, the proposal will be given to the board. We have given them a proposal to increase the salary.”
A total of four Bangladeshi players have been drafted into the maiden Pakistan Super League (PSL). Durjoy said all of them would be given No Objection Certificate (NOC) but they would have to comeback if there is national commitment.

BCB now wants one Test match against Zimbabwe at home

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) backed out from their decision to play a Twenty20 series, shelving the Test series against Zimbabwe at its home in January. In an emergency meeting of the Cricket Operations, the policy makers of the board decided in principle to include a Test alongside three-match T20 series while Zimbabwe proposed to arrange a five-match T20 series in order to have a preparation for the World T20. The inclusion of a Test came apparently in the wake of widespread criticism of not giving the longer version cricket, a format in which Bangladesh often found them in wanting, a due importance. Moreover Bangladesh often complained to ICC that they get less number of Test matches. According to the Cricket Operations Committee chairman Naimur Rahman Durjoy MP, shelving the Test would convey a different message to the ICC. If everything goes as per the plan, the Zimbabwe is all set to arrive in Bangladesh after January 11. Since the Under-19 World Cup will be going on in Bangladesh in this period, the series against Zimbabwe is likely to be held in Khulna and Sylhet. Test is the most important place, if we play well here we can do well in all of the formats but one cant say the same about the vice-versa. If we play Test cricket there is a good chance for practice and then we always talk about increasing Test cricket in the FTP and so if we still dont play Test, and cut it then it might give a negative impact, Durjoy, the first Test captain of Bangladesh, told the reporters yesterday. We have Zimbabwe series, which includes ODI, Test and T20. We have home and away both series against them. So we will try to accommodate as much as we can in these two series. The Cricket Operations chairman informed that they have three Tests pending against Zimbabwe and so they want to handle it better way. Actually we have three Tests from Zimbabwe if we can play one Test here and play two Tests in Zimbabwe during our away tour in June-July, then it will be handled better way. Their proposal is of five T20s, keeping the World T20 in mind but we want to play one Test and three T20Is, we will give them this proposal, if they agree then this will work, he added. Durjoy however dismissed the notion idea that the inclusion of Test match would prevent Bangladesh from taking a good preparation for World T20. All nations have World T20 and if you see, everyone is playing Tests and then everyone will play World Cup. You cant do well in Test by playing T20s only but by playing Test cricket you can do well in T20 matches, he pointed out. According to Durjoy, the Asia Cup will provide Bangladesh a good platform to have a genuine practice for World T20 even though they had to compromise with practice match schedule of World T20 due to the Asia Cup. Bangladesh have scheduled practice matches for World T20 in March 4 and 6 but the final of the Asia Cup will be held on March 6 which is why they had to opt out the March 4 practice match. Durjoy said they kept the option of playing the March 6 practice match but it also would have to be dropped if they qualify into the final match. He believed the acclimatization with the Dharmashala condition wouldnt be tougher one for Bangladesh. Head coach Chandika Hathrusingha recommended for a practice camp in Dharmashala at the end of January but due to the tight schedule and the huge difference of weather in January and March, forced cricket operations to shelve the idea, said Durjoy. The weather wont allow us to acclimatise. And then they have the case of ground availability. The ICC wants to take over the grounds months before an event, so that is an issue as well. Apart from the Zimbabwe series and preparation for the World T20, the cricket operations also discussed about the national players contract. Durjoy hinted the salary of the national players would be increased as a result of their brilliant performance in 2015. We spoke about the national teams players contract. There might be 15 players in the national contract. Normally, it does increase the salary, the last time though it didnt enhance, and because the year has gone well, we want to give as much as possible. The increase will be based on the percentage, the proposal will be given to the board. We have given them a proposal to increase the salary. A total of four Bangladeshi players have been drafted into the maiden Pakistan Super League (PSL). Durjoy said all of them would be given No Objection Certificate (NOC) but they would have to comeback if there is national commitment.