The England and Wales Cricket Board expressed reluctance to play in warm-up matches during their March visit to Bangladesh in preparation for three one-day internationals and a similar number of T20Is against the host.
According to the official itinerary that the Bangladesh Cricket Board notified in the later part of December, the visiting side was scheduled to play two warm up ties on February 24 and 26, respectively, at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium upon their arrival on February 20.
‘We have some planning; simultaneously, the touring sides also have some requirements. Considering the affair, we usually settle on a venue. From that thinking, there was a schedule for England’s warm up match that we wanted to host in Sylhet,’ said BCB chief executive officer Nizamuddin Chowdhury on Sunday.
‘However, as per their tour planning, England opted to be limited to the official games, so that wasn’t possible this time [holding the warm ups].
The visiting England are scheduled to play the three ODIs on March 1, 3, and 6, while the T20Is will be played on March 9, 12, and 14 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur and the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chaattogram, respectively.
Following the resignation of Russell Domingo as the Tigers' head coach, the BCB is searching for a new name for this position. And in its continuation, they are expected to appoint a new coach before the high profile series against England.
Meanwhile, there is widespread speculation in the country's cricket circles that the BCB is close to confirming the Tigers' former head coach Chandika Hathurusingha for a second stint. Hathurusingha is currently the head coach of the New South Wales Cricket Academy in Australia.
However, a country’s media outlet recently relayed that Hathurusingha has denied the Tigers' cricket administration thanks to a payment bump by his current office.
Although Nizamuddin expressed his willingness to mention any name, he made sure that they were all set to name a new coach prior to the commencement of the England series at home.
‘We are moving forward as per our plan, and we would be able to finalize everything before the England series.’
