The next edition of the T20 World Cup will kick off in June this year in West Indies and the United States. Ahead of the mega event taking place for the first time in that region, Bangladesh will play a T20 series against co-hosts USA, confirmed the chairman of Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) cricket operations Jalal Yunus on Saturday.
Tigers will play a full series against Sri Lanka right after the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) and then a white-ball series against Zimbabwe.
The Tigers will play two of their four World Cup group games in the USA and as part of preparation for the tournament, they will play a T20 series against the co-hosts.
Bangladesh have only played two T20s in the USA. In 2018, they faced the West Indies in Florida. Because of the lack of experience of playing in American conditions, Bangladesh will play the series for prepare in the world cup.
"We will play five T20s against Zimbabwe after the Sri Lanka series. We are planning to tour the USA for a three-match T20I series after that. It will be part of our training and preparation," said Yunus.
The three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka will begin on 4 March. Then the hosts will play an ODI and a Test series against the island nation. In the second week of May, the series against Zimbabwe will commence. So, the USA T20I series could take place in the last week of May.
“Bangladesh have already announced the squads for the T20 and the ODI series against Sri Lanka. Najmul Hossain Shanto has been named as the full-time captain across formats.
Former captain Shakib Al Hasan is not part of the white-ball squads for his eye problem and won't take part in the Test series as well,” Yunus added.