West Indies Likely To Play Only Two Tests Instead Of Three On Their Tour Of Bangladesh In January

West Indies has been the most active touring team since the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc in the world. The cricketing fraternity had the West Indies to thank for visiting England in July amid the epidemic as the sport resumed its proceedings at the international level for the first time since March. The Caribbeans, who are currently in New Zealand for two Tests and three T20Is, could reduce one out of three Tests in their tour of Bangladesh.

West Indies are scheduled to visit Bangladesh in January 2021 for three Tests, three One-day internationals, and two T20 internationals. The fixtures will also form a part of the ICC World Test Championship and the Cricket World Cup Super League. The Caribbeans will tour the sub-continent nation for the first time since 2018 when they only won the T20 series out of the three formats of the game.

Cricket West Indies president Ricky Skerritt suggested that there has been an option to reduce the number of Tests from three to two and that it would be finalized in the next few days. Skerritt underlined that the COVID-19 disease has forced them to think from all perspectives, including scheduling and cost since the pandemic has brought significant pressure in terms of revenue. The CWI boss respects the bilateral ties between the two nations; hence, choosing to send their team.

“There has been an option to reduce from three to two Tests but it is not finalised yet. It will be finalised within the next few days. The problem is (that) we have to look at it from all perspectives, that of COVID-19, scheduling and cost. These days, the pressures that COVID has brought to world cricket are significant in terms of revenue. We want to come to Bangladesh because we respect the relationship and the bilateral agreements that we have,” Skerritt stated as quoted by Hindustan Times.

West Indies assures they will send their best available team to Bangladesh:

Ricky Skerritt wants to send the best team available to Bangladesh and sees the tour as a challenging one since the conditions are vastly from that to theirs. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic doing rounds, he assured that they are doing their best to participate on tours abroad and series at home. West Indies’ commitment in New Zealand ends on the 15th of December.

“I just want to assure you that we will always send the best available team to any tour that we undertake, including Bangladesh. We believe a tour to Bangladesh is always a challenging tour because it is an environment that’s very different to our own conditions. We are doing everything we can to participate in tours abroad and at home. The COVID-19 pandemic is making it extremely difficult to implement our plans,” he added.

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