Bangladesh hope to return to practice in NZ tour very soon

DHAKA - The Bangladesh team members and supporting staff

today underwent a Covid-19 test which is crucial to keep the New Zealand tour
alive.

  If all the members of the Bangladesh contingent return negative in this
test result, which will be available tomorrow (Monday) as New Zealand time,
the tour will go on as scheduled. But if anyone comes positive, the whole
team may enter into another fresh quarantine as the rules set by the New
Zealand Heath Ministry.

  And in that case, the series will be left in limbo as the both of the teams
had tight upcoming international cricket schedule.

  However amid the uncertainty, Bangladesh expected to return to the practice
session soon.

  "We feel very good. Today we've a Covid test, if we all come back negative
in this test, then we will go to practice in the next day," Bangladesh pacer
Shoriful Islam said in a video message sent by the Bangladesh Cricket Board
(BCB) today.

  After arriving in New Zealand, Bangladesh did mandatory seven-day
quarantine but they had to enter into fresh three-day quarantine again when
spin bowling Coach Rangana Herath was tested Covid-19 positive.

  According to Shoriful, Herath is now doing fine and is expected to come
negative in today's test. He also said the cricketers are thrilled with the
idea of being able to return to the field quickly if it is negative.

  "Everyone is excited about it. We've not been practicing for a long time.
Pray for us that everyone of us could come negative," said the right-handed
pacer.

  "We've been divided into two groups. We can come down and meet two or three
times every day. We can speak each other during the meeting, maintaining the
social distance. It always feels good to see each other's faces. Everyone is
hoping for something better this time. We are actually hoping for the best,"
Shoriful remarked.

  The fate of this series will be deciced only after getting the result of
the Covid-19 test, according to the BCB president Nazmul Hasan Papon.

  "We are waiting for the result of the players' Covid-19 test. If negative,
I hope they can get out of quarantine and practice. This (quarantine) is not
in the hands of their board, but in the hands of the Ministry of Health. They
are trying to support as much as possible. We appreciate it. If they postpone
the series for 3/4 days then we have no choice. It's difficult to play
without our adequate training facilities - that's what we told them," Papon
said yesterday.

  The first Test between the two teams is scheduled for the first day of the
New Year at the Bay Oval in Mount Mangunai. The second Test is at Hagley Oval
in Christchurch from January 9-13.

  Before those two Tests, which are the part of the ICC World Test Champions,
Bangladesh are supposed to play two practice matches. According to the
official, without those two practice matches it is tough to go to the Test
straight.

  Bangladesh failed to register any victory in any format of the cricket in New Zealand after playing 32 matches so far.BSS