Zimbabwe Get Permission To Host Bangladesh In July Despite Covid-19 Restrictions

The Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has been granted permission by the country’s Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC) to host Bangladesh next month despite the current suspension by the government on all sporting activities in the country to contain the surge in covid-19 cases.

Zimbabwe are to host Bangladesh for the first time since May 2013; the tour consists of a one-off Test, three ODIs and three T20Is with all matches to take place behind closed doors. The Test match is scheduled from July 7 at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, while the limited-overs matches from July 16 to 27 are to be played at the Harare Sports Club in Harare.

Zimbabwe and Bangladesh last met in March 2020 when Zimbabwe toured Bangladesh. They lost all the matches on that tour – one Test, three ODIs, and two T20Is.

This will be the second men’s international series Zimbabwe will host since the pandemic began, after successfully hosting Pakistan for two Tests and three T20s in April. However, two other series, that of Pakistan women’s side and the South Africa A side, were suspended without completion because of flight restrictions of Emirates Airlines and stricter restrictions in the host country respectively.

Mushfiqur Rahim gives Bangladesh an injury scare ahead of Zimbabwe tour

Senior wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim fractured his index finger during a Bangabandhu Dhaka Premier League T20 match. Mushfiqur was captaining the Abahani Limited in the DPL and was then ruled out of the tournament due to the hairline fracture he suffered while gathering a throw from the deep during their game against Gazi Tank Cricketers on June 21.

“We have advised him one week rest. Since it is a hairline fracture we are hoping that it won’t take time for him to recover. After one week we will review the injury and later take a decision in this regard,” BCB chief physician Debashish Chowdhury told Cricbuzz.

Not just the ‘keeper, but Bangladesh are also dealing with injuries to Tamim Iqbal and Taskin Ahmed ahead of the tour of Zimbabwe. Tamim suffered a knee injury while Taskin sustained an injury on his left thumb; both were also ruled out of the DPL.

Bangladesh are slated to arrive in Zimbabwe on the 29th of June, spend the next day quarantining before starting preparations for the Test match. They will participate in a two-day practice match before the one-off Test.

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