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Bangladesh plays 1st test on Nov.10 with India |
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August 30, 2000
Dhaka (UNB) - Bangladesh is set to write its name in history books on November 10 next when the newest member of elite group of cricketing nations will face India in their maiden test match. Amidst continuing venue dilemma, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Saber Hossain Chowdhury announced the schedule of the test match at a press briefing here yesterday (Tuesday). Bangladesh became the 10th test-playing nation on June 26 this year after the International Cricket Council unanimously agreed to its bid. The Indian Cricket Board president AC Muttiah announced on Saturday their agreement to play the one-off Test match against Bangladesh in the first week of November. “We are grateful to the Indian board for accepting our invitation. They have also agreed to our proposed schedule,” said Saber Chowdhury. He said the match should be held at the Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS) and none should begrudge this, as it would be a historic event for the cricket-crazy nation. “I can’t think of any alternative venue for the maiden test match,” the BCB boss said. He said the big bowl is the only stadium approved by the International Cricket Council (ICC) as a Test venue. The ICC is yet to approve Chittagong, Rajshahi and BKSP as test venues. He, however, said that they need a minimum five or six weeks to prepare the ground for the five-day match. “It’s not my personal opinion… the ground committee thinks so”. But the BCB will not have enough time to prepare the ground as the National Sports Council granted the Bangabandhu National Stadium to Bangladesh Football Federation till October 31. So, NSC may have to reconsider the allotment to hold the maiden test match in this stadium Saber Chowdhury said that earlier replying to an invitation, England wanted to play a test in December but Bangladesh did not agree because of the holy month of Ramadan. He said they would form an organising committee to chalk out elaborate programmes to make the historic first test match a memorable one. |