SPORTS REPORTER

Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation is all set to host a five-match Test series after 51 years when hosts Bangladesh take on visitors Nepal in the first match at the Paltan Ground today.

The match will kick off at 3:30pm while the remaining four matches will take place at the same venue on February 23, 25, 26 and 28.

Under the guidance of former player Badsha Mia, Bangladesh have been training since January 10 while Nepalese players have come here to play the series following their involvement in recently-concluded Nepal Professional Kabaddi League.

“We are hopeful about producing good results against Nepal like in the past. We have had a good preparation,” the Bangladesh coach said, adding that it is an opportunity for the players to get international exposure, which they hardly get except for matches in the South Asian Games and the Asian Games.

Nepal manager Khem Rai Chaulagan said, “We are not here with any goals or for winning any medals. We have just thought about the perspective of what our players learned from the pro league and how they implement those in the series.”

BKF general secretary SM Newas Shohag informed that Bangladesh had previously staged such a Test series against India in 1974.