Mumbai: Thanks to India’s packed schedule in 2016, the proposed one-off Test match in Bangladesh this August looks doubtful, as of now.
Exactly two years ago, India were scheduled to play two Test matches in Bangladesh, but could only play one owing India’s cramped fixtures even then. But at the same time, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had promised to squeeze in one Test in August 2016 and that was decided in a BCCI meeting too.
But BCCI seems to have backtracked on that commitment and is grappling to find dates for the lone five-dayer against the team which have attained Test status 16 years ago.
However, this cannot be blamed on BCCI as India’s plate is full this season. A second-string side is touring Zimbabwe for a Test and three ODIs led by India’s limited-overs skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni in a few days which will be followed by a four-Test series against West Indies in July.
This is not all, the Men in Blue will engage themselves in a four-Test five one-dayers series against New Zealand at home in October and then India will play a five-match series against England in November.
All these series have already been announced by the BCCI, but there’s no mention of the lone Test Virat Kpohli and his boys were suppose to play against the neighbours. Even Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury admitted that it’s tough for India to squeeze in one Test amidst their packed itinerary.
“It looks tough considering the number of matches India are playing in the current season. But still BCCI is working for a solution on the issue and let see what they decide finally,” Chowdhury was quoted as saying by Bangladesh media.
By the way, this one match series against Bangladesh was even approved by the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Future Tour Programmes (FTP).