Bangladesh tour of Sri Lanka deferred yet again

Bangladesh cricket team’s tour of Sri Lanka has been postponed yet again. This time over a disagreement on the quarantine period upon the Bangladesh squad’s arrival in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka Cricket has not been able to get the Government nod for relaxation or waiver of the mandatory two-week quarantine for the visitors. The disagreement over the quarantine period has resulted in the postponement of the tour, which was rescheduled for the next month.

Bangladesh had to originally tour Sri Lanka in July-August this year for a three-Test series. The series was then deferred due to the COVID-19 global health crisis.

As per the revised schedule, Bangladesh had to arrive in Sri Lanka yesterday (September 27) and the first Test was slated to start on October 23.

Sri Lankan health authorities reportedly wanted the Bangladesh squad to spend two weeks in quarantine on arrival in the Island nations. There have also been concerns as a number of Bangladesh cricketers have tested positive for COVID-19.

Sri Lanka Cricket had proposed that the quarantine period may be divided into a week each in Bangladesh and upon arrival.

The two boards were negotiating over the 14-day quarantine period after BCB president Nazmul Hassan Papon had made it clear that Bangladesh will not go ahead with the tour if the number of quarantine days was not reduced.

Hassan has said today that the tour was not cancelled yet but a crucial disagreement between the two boards had forced them into asking SLC to reschedule the tour, the first Test of which was supposed to start on October 23 in Pallekele.

“Any tourist who is entering Sri Lanka has to abide by this rule [of 14 days in quarantine],” ESPNCricinfo has quoted Hassan as saying. “They (SLC) have told us that they couldn’t do anything about this point (quarantine). We have informed them that we have to reschedule the tour to a time when things will improve. We cannot play the ICC Test Championship according to their guidelines. Their cricket board and sports ministry tried very hard. They agreed to all but one of our requirements, but that one is the real one. The 14-day quarantine.”

Sri Lanka have had four home series postponed or cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to the missed opportunity to host the Asia Cup.

Admin Sportz Front

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