Bangladesh Upset As Cricket Australia's COVID-19-Related Demands Forces Mushfiqur Rahim Out Of The T20 Series

A few members of the Bangladesh cricket team and officials claim to be unhappy due to Mushfiqur Rahim’s absence from the upcoming T20 series against Australia at home. Bangladesh and Australia will lock horns in Dhaka from the 1st of August to play five T20 internationals as both prepare for the T20 World Cup. A few players and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have called Cricket Australia’s demands unfair.

The two cricketing boards had agreed to include their respective bio-bubbles in Zimbabwe and the West Indies as part of the mandatory pre-series ten-day isolation in Dhaka. However, Mushfiqur Rahim had to leave Harare as his parents tested positive for COVID-19. As a result, the keeper-batsman cannot enter the bubble in Dhaka now. Though BCB had granted Rahim the leave to attend to his parents, the veteran aimed to be available for the T20 series against Australia after missing the T20s against Zimbabwe.

But once the agreement between BCB and CA emerged regarding the bio-bubble, the board asked Rahim to stay, even for the Zimbabwe T20 series. The 34-year old missed out when the home seres quarantine was brought forward from the 22nd to 20th of July. The squad feels agitated as Rahim has been the exception, while the others have been through four airports – four airports – Harare, Johannesburg, Doha and Dhaka, carrying greater exposure to the virus.

A member of the team commented that it has been an unfair play as all the players have passed through three airports; hence, it makes little sense to keep Mushfiqur Rahim out of the series. The cricketer justified by saying that the star batsman had to leave due to a family problem and not allowing him to enter the bubble after 2-3 days seems wrong.

“It is unfair what happened with Mushfiq. We came in a commercial flight passing through three airports so I don’t know if it makes much sense to keep Mushfiq out of the series. He went back home from the middle of a tour for a family problem. So to not allow him to enter the quarantine after just two or three days, is not right,” a member told as quoted by ESPN Cricinfo.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) fails to negotiate with Cricket Australia successfully:

A Bangladesh Cricket Board official revealed the agreement allows no one to enter from outside the bubble and they have to hold the series within it. The spokesperson understands there are challenges; however, they have to adapt to the new formal and the selectors have chosen the best players available.

“The agreement between CA and BCB says that there is no chance for allowing anyone from outside into the bio-bubble. We have to hold the series with only those inside the bio-bubble. There will be challenges but this is the new normal. I think the selectors have picked the players who are best available during this scenario. There are no alternatives but to take our best available options,” the official remarked.

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