Tigers to start regular practice in New Zealand tomorrow

DHAKA - All of the players and supporting staff of Bangladesh team came back negative in the crucial Covid-19 test today, paving
their way to start the regular practice session in New Zealand tomorrow
(Tuesday).

  The Bangladesh's New Zealand tour was left in limbo after their spin
bowling coach Rangana Herath was tested positive Covid-19 which forced the
side to enter into fresh three-day quarantine following a mandatory seven-day
quarantine.

  The fate of the tour was relied on this latest Covid-19 test. Any positive
result could lead to another quarantine which may hamper the schedule of the
two-match Test series. But to the delight of Bangladesh, no one returned
positive.

  "Yesterday we had a covid-19 test here. The result came this morning and to
our delight we all came back negative. Because of this negative result, we
can get out of here tomorrow and go to practice," said Khaled Mahmud Sujon,
the team director of Bangladesh, in a video message today.

  "We will start training tomorrow at Lincoln University Grounds, where we
will have the opportunity to go to the gym," said Mahmud. "After the practice
session there we will go to the hotel. Then we can move around normally, we
can train, we can do everything."

  Sujan also asked the nation to keep the players in prayers so that they
could complete series without further trouble.

  "Keep us in your prayers so that we may stay healthy here and play a good
series."

  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 scheduled to play two practice matches.

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