SPORTS REPORTER
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) received a welcome boost yesterday as Emirates Cricket Board confirmed an additional T20I to the ongoing series in Sharjah.
The third and final match will now be held on May 21 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, turning what was initially a two-match affair into a three-match series.
The decision came after a formal request from the BCB, which is currently in the final stages of discussions with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) regarding a separate T20I series in Pakistan.
Bangladesh are slated to open their campaign against Pakistan on May 27, according to the draft revised itinerary. Initially, the plan was to bring the team home after the UAE tour, which was scheduled to end yesterday. That would have meant flying the players back to Bangladesh and then again to Pakistan within a matter of days -- a costly and tiring process.
Not only did it raise concerns over player fatigue and logistical complications, it would have incurred significant travel and accommodation expenses.
The approval from UAE Cricket changed the picture. The additional fixture means the team can now stay on in the UAE before heading straight to Pakistan, avoiding the back-and-forth journey and trimming down the overall cost.
“If we had returned home and then travelled to Pakistan again five or six days later, it would’ve put a lot of physical strain on the players,” said Iftekhar Rahman Mithu, chairman of the BCB’s media and communications committee, explaining the board’s reasoning to The Daily Star.
He also pointed out the financial burden: “Secondly, the price of flight tickets would be also huge. Thirdly, if we send the team early in Pakistan, they will remain confined in the hotel room for a few days.”
Highlighting the cost-effectiveness of the current arrangement, he added, “If you stay at Dubai for an additional seven days, where each room costs around 300 dollars, it will be around USD 52 to 60 thousand additional cost for hotel rooms.
“So we requested the UAE for an additional T20I and they will now bear the cost until May 22.”
As for the Pakistan leg of the tour, Mithu noted that discussions are still ongoing regarding the number of matches to be played. There appears to be a split in opinion within the squad.
“A few players talked about reducing the number of matches while some players agreed to play all matches. But Pakistan are the host team. So overall, we are in a difficult situation,” he admitted.
Mithu further informed that the tentative plan for Bangladesh contingent is to reach Pakistan on May 24, with the series expected to conclude by June 5 as the board is mindful of the Eid holidays and the subsequent tour of Sri Lanka.