A Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) official confirmed on Friday, September 13, that the upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa is likely to be held in Dhaka and Chattogram. Despite concerns over the country’s political climate, the series, which is part of the ICC World Test Championship, is expected to proceed as scheduled.
The BCB remains optimistic about the series going ahead, even though some uncertainties arose due to the political situation. Cricket South Africa (CSA) is set to meet with the South African Cricketers’ Association (SACA) before making a final decision on the tour. However, there are no security concerns at this time, and South Africa's government has not issued any travel advisories against visiting Bangladesh, which further supports the likelihood of the series taking place.
A draft itinerary for the series has already been prepared by the BCB. As per the schedule, the South African team is expected to arrive in Bangladesh on October 16. The first Test is slated to begin on October 21 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka, while the second and final Test will be played at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram from October 29. The series is set to conclude on November 3 when the South African team departs.
"We are hopeful the series will go ahead as planned, and we will be making an official announcement soon," a BCB official told Cricbuzz.
This news comes in the wake of recent disruptions in Bangladesh’s cricket calendar, including the relocation of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup to the UAE and the rescheduling of New Zealand A's tour, both due to political unrest in the country.
