Bangladesh to play 7 red-ball games to prepare for challenging Test assignments including series against India, South Africa

With Bangladesh's campaign in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup all but over, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is all set to shift its focus from T20Is to Tests.

Bangladesh have a very busy red-ball schedule for the rest of the year. Soon after the T20 World Cup, they are scheduled to travel to Pakistan for a two-match Test series. It will be followed by the tour of India where they will play two more Tests and three T20Is.

Later in October, the Bangla Tigers will welcome South Africa for a two-match Test series before they travel to West Indies to play two Tests along with three ODIs and three T20Is in November-December. And to ensure that the players remain fully prepared for the challenging Test series, BCB has lined up seven red-ball games for the team.

Bangladesh to prepare for busy Test schedule:

The Bangladesh Test team will be playing three four-day matches in Chattogram next month, according to a report in ESPNcricinfo. After those games, the Test players are set to participate in the two four-day matches against Pakistan A in Darwin from July 19 to 29.

The Bangladesh A team will then travel to Pakistan in August to play two four-day matches against the same opponents. They will also host New Zealand A in either August or September. A number of Test players have also been involved in training camps since May in Chattogram and Sylhet.

"We can give them the best preparation ahead of the grueling Test schedule in the coming months. The rest is up to the players. I have been following the Bangladesh Tigers camp, which is going well," said BCB's cricket operations chairman Jalal Yunus.

Bangladesh could also visit India next month if the BCB accepts the Afghanistan Cricket Board's (ACB) proposal of playing three ODIs and as many T20Is in Greater Noida. While the ACB has already prepared the schedule for the series, the BCB is yet to take a final call on the series. With Bangladesh facing a busy schedule, the BCB reportedly wants to postpone the series.

At present, Bangladesh are in the Caribbeans for the ongoing T20 World Cup. They qualified for the Super 8s of the tournament after winning three of their four group games. However, their chances of making it to the semifinal are highly unlikely after they faced losses in their first two Super 8 games. Bangladesh will be facing Afghanistan in their last Super 8 game.