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Sylhet to host Test match after five years


Published : 03 Jun 2023 08:08 PM

Sylhet International Cricket Stadium is all set to host its first Test match after five years as New Zealand is scheduled to play their opening Test of the two-match series in November-December.

No Test match has been played in Sylhet since hosting a Test between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in November 2018 though seven ODIs and eight T20Is have been played in the venue so far.

Bangladesh Cricket Board's director Shafiul Alam Chowdhury Nadel, who represents Sylhet Division in the board, confirmed the development to Cricbuzz on Friday.

A four-member representative board from New Zealand Cricket (NZC) -- Security consultant Reg Dickason, Head of security Greg Mann, Evan Jones of Players' Association and the team's logistics manager Riaan Muller -- arrived in the country and paid a visit to the venue in Sylhet on May 31 in order to inspect the wicket, security and venue facilities. According to BCB officials they were quite impressed with the overall arrangements.

"We are expected to host the opening Test of the two-match series against New Zealand in November-December and this will be quite a big occasion for us as we will be hosting a Test match after five years," Shafiul told Cricbuzz on Friday.

"They (NZC representatives) are quite impressed with our facilities and it looks like we have met all their requirements," he said adding that they are looking forward to host more Test matches at the venue in the coming days.

New Zealand are scheduled to play a three-match ODI series against Bangladesh in September this year according to the FTP. Furthermore, after the ICC World Cup in India in October-November, New Zealand are scheduled to return to Bangladesh again to play two Tests.

BCB have prepared a draft itinerary for the series and Cricbuzz learnt that the three ODIs will be held on September 21, 23 and 26 respectively at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. After completing the series, the touring side are expected to fly to India for the World Cup.

New Zealand will return to Dhaka on November 21, and they are scheduled to play a two-day practice game on November 23-24 at Sylhet before the series opener at SICS from November 28 to December 2.

The visitors are scheduled to play the series-concluding last Test at SBNCS in Dhaka from December 6 to 10.