Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury has reportedly said that the board is hoping to allow fans back in the stadium, up to 50 percent of the venue’s capacity, during the upcoming home series against Pakistan, scheduled to begin on November 19.
Notably, fans have been barred from the stadium in any international game in Bangladesh due to the Covid-19 situation. However, Chowdhury said that the BCB is thinking to allow atleast 50 percent crowd but the last decision will be taken by the government.
“We are hopeful to have fifty percent fans in the ground subject to the government approval,” Chowdhury was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.
“The fans need to be vaccinated. As children are yet to be vaccinated, they are unlikely to be allowed to see the matches from the gallery in the Pakistan series,” he added.
The Babar Azam-led Pakistan is scheduled to play two Tests and three T20 matches in Bangladesh during the tour, which will begin on November 19 in Dhaka.
While the T20I matches will be played on November 19, 20, and 22 at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka, the opening Test will be held from November 26 at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram and the second and final Test will be held from December 4 in Dhaka.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan cricket team is likely to travel to Bangladesh directly from the UAE after the ongoing T20 World Cup final at the Dubai Sports City Stadium on November 14.
Earlier, the Bangladesh cricket team had toured Pakistan in January 2020 for a three-match T20I series. Hosts Pakistan had won the series 2-0 with a game being abandoned due to rain.
Bangladesh is next slated to face South Africa at home in March next year. The two sides will play three ODIs and two Tests.