Dhaka — Bangladesh’s Test captain Mominul Haque has said he is not disappointed over the postponement of the two-match Test series at home against Australia, that was scheduled to take place in June .
Mominul said considering the current situation of coronavirus pandemic, it was a timely call. At the same time, he reckons the postponement may even have come as a blessing in disguise, as the Tigers might have Shakib Al Hasan, currently serving an ICC ban till October, back in the team when the rescheduled series takes place next year.
“I’m not disappointed that much because of the postponement of this series. I think due to the postponement, we will get enough time to prepare, we will get Shakib bhai back in the team,” Mominul told the media.
Shakib is currently serving a two-year ban, with one of those suspended, due to failing to report several corrupt approaches made to him by the bookies. The sentence was imposed on him on October 29 last year. The southpaw will be available to get back to international cricket from October 29 this year.
“The availability of Shakib bhai will surely strengthen our combination. In his absence, we have to run to find a spinner. So it will be great to have him back in the side. I don’t how BCB and CA (Cricket Australia) are thinking to reschedule. As I know, the series might take place in April next year. So as a captain it will be really a relief to get Shakib back in the team,” Mominul added.
In a joint statement published on Saturday, BCB and CA said that the series is postponed due to the current circumstances. They said they will now “discuss about the future schedule” of the event.
“This is understandably disappointing for players and fans of both sides. However, in the current global scenario of the COVID-19 outbreak and considering the nature of the health emergency, the BCB and CA are in agreement that this is the most sensible and practical decision,” BCB CEO Nizam Uddin Chowdhury was quoted as saying in a press release sent to the media from BCB.
“Postponing the tour is regrettable, but I’d like to thank the Bangladesh Cricket Board for the open, honest and responsible discussions that led us to this mutually-agreed position. The health of our people and communities is the number one priority for both Boards and that is reflected in the action we’ve taken in postponing the two Test matches,” CEO of CA Kevin Roberts was quoted as saying in the statement.
Earlier, Bangladesh, like the other cricketing nation, postponed all the cricketing activities in the country amid the global pandemic caused by COVID-19, the disease associated with the novel Coronavirus discovered in Wuhan, the bustling capital of Hubei province in China. UNB
