BCB announces fixtures as Cricket South Africa approves Bangladesh tour after detailed security inspection

The much-anticipated two-match Test series between Bangladesh and South Africa has been officially confirmed by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) after Cricket South Africa (CSA) gave the green signal following a thorough security assessment in Bangladesh.

The Bangladesh vs South Africa Test series had been under scrutiny due to concerns about safety, but after a meticulous inspection by a CSA security delegation, the tour is now set to proceed as planned. The BCB on Monday, September 30, confirmed South Africa’s tour of Bangladesh for two Tests.

Bangladesh vs South Africa: BCB confirms South Africa tour after CSA’s security delegation approves safety in Bangladesh

This announcement came after CSA's Operations Manager, along with security experts and representatives of the South African Cricketers’ Association, conducted a comprehensive on-ground evaluation in Bangladesh, and the board expressed satisfaction with the security in Bangladesh.

The South African squad, which will be announced soon, will touch down in Dhaka on October 16, allowing them a few days to acclimatize before facing Bangladesh in the first Test, which will be held from October 21 to 25 in Dhaka. The action will then shift to Chattogram, where the second and final match is set to take place from October 29 to November 2.

Nazmul Abedin, BCB's director, was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz: “Naturally, it is relieving that international cricket is returning back to Bangladesh. Definitely (there was a concern), but things are under control here, and we understand that there is no big problem here.

But there was a concern about how the world is looking at us, and now it is relieving as a fact considering the outside world is also thinking that we are a safe place to come. I hope other countries will also feel better about us, and if we can conduct it well (the home series against South Africa), the other teams will also feel assured coming here.”

CSA has given the Bangladesh Test series a go-ahead after in-loco inspection

Meanwhile, South Africa's security concerns about touring Bangladesh were due to the political unrest in the country during July and August, which saw anti-government protests leading to the fall of Sheikh Hasina's governance.

The instability also forced the relocation of the Women's T20 World Cup 2024 from Bangladesh to the UAE, raising further concerns about safety in the country. However, after "an in-loco inspection" from the CSA team gave positive feedback to the board, they decided to go ahead with their planned Test series in Bangladesh.

CSA said in a statement on Monday: “CSA has given the series a go-ahead based on the recommendation made by the team post an in-loco inspection visit to Bangladesh.”

Notably, the last Test series between South Africa and Bangladesh took place in South Africa in March-April 2022. Currently, South Africa is gearing up for an ODI series against Ireland in the UAE, while Bangladesh is facing India in the Test series followed by three T20Is next month.

Here’s the Bangladesh vs South Africa Test series schedule:

21 October – 25 October: First Test; Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka

29 October – 02 November: Second Test; Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram

FIXTURE | South Africa tour of Bangladesh 2024#BCB #Cricket #BANvSA pic.twitter.com/eTuj82mAFA

— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) September 30, 2024