Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is expecting more bilateral series with India in the next FTP cycle as they get a ray of hope, observing the schedule that ICC is preparing currently.

There is chance that Bangladesh will get three bilateral series against Indies in three years—two in Bangladesh and one in India, something which is lucrative for them. Moreover the number of the matches will be increased and so the financial advantages.  

“I can’t tell anything more on that since it is yet to be finalised. But we are hopeful that we’ll get more series against India in the next FTP,” said BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury.

India was the country which played against Bangladesh in their inaugural Test after which they came here to visit four times before they invited Bangladesh for their first time in their country in 2017 in a one-off Test.

But if the suggestion of the next FTP schedule is anything to go by, Bangladesh won’t have to wait more to get the second tour in India.

“As ICC has been working on it, in three formats we’ll see new things, new types of competition. If the bilateral series or FTP on which they are working now, is approved finally, I think we’ll get more matches against other nations. Everybody is keen to execute to the commitment of FTP, what you are now seeing now. Hopefully we’ll be gainer.”

Bangladesh however will again tour in India but to play a T20 series against Afghanistan who made India their adopted venue for the time being. Afghanistan will play their inaugural Test match against India in June 14 but beforehand they want to play a four-match T20 series against Bangladesh.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) however is inclined to play three-match T20 series and a representative from Bangladesh currently is in Dehradun, the venue of the series, to finalise the matter.

“The schedule of the series will be finalised within a week. You know a cricket operations manager is in Dehradun now to observe the facilities and other matters of the venue. He will comeback within two or three days and will submit a report to the board after which we’ll take the final call,” Chowdhury said.

After the series against Afghanistan, Bangladesh will visit West Indies for a tour, consisted of three formats of the cricket. Chowdhury expected that they will get their desired head coach ahead of the tour.

“There is no update about the head coach as of now. We also need a fielding coach after the resignation of Richard Halsall. Currently we are trying to appoint a fielding coach. But I am hopeful that we’ll get a head coach before the series against West Indies,” he said, adding that it is yet to decided who will act as a coach for the series against Afghanistan if they don’t get one on time.

When the matter of the coach is yet to be finalized, the board sent a list of players for a Government Order (GO) for the tour in West Indies. The players list created a confusion since Mashrafe Bin Mortaza’s name was absent in that list.

The CEO later cleared the air by stating it as a communication problem.

“You know West Indies are now playing bilateral T20 series in Florida. Since we’ll play two T20 matches in Florida in USA, we needed the GO. Mashrafe is not playing T20 so his name was absent in the list but his name was in the ODI list. However for our communication problem, only the list of T20 players were sent to the ministry. So the confusion is created.”

CEO also said that the preliminary squad will be announced on May 5 after which Bangladesh will start prepare for the series against Afghanistan and West Indies.