Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is nurturing its future stars, and the High Performance (HP) unit is set for a crucial tour of Australia commencing on 13th July. This extensive tour will encompass a nine-team T20 tournament alongside one-day and four-day matches, providing a comprehensive test for the up-and-coming Bangladeshi cricketers.
The BCB unveiled the HP unit squad on Wednesday, with leadership roles distributed across formats. Akbar Ali will don the captain's armband for the T20 matches, while Afif Hossain takes charge of the ODIs, and Mahmudul Hasan Joy leads the charge in the four-day encounters.
The national team doesn't visit Australia all that often for tours. Their most recent Test tour, and indeed their only one, was back in 2003 when they played two Tests and three ODIs. They did return in 2008, but just for a three-match ODI series. Since then, the Tigers have only played in Australia during two global tournaments: the 2015 ODI World Cup and the 2022 T20 World Cup.
The HP squad also has a 50-over series and a T20 tournament lined up, which will see them face Big Bash teams and a Pakistani side. With this in mind, the selectors have picked a team heavy on white-ball specialists, including Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Afif Hossain, and Shamim Hossain, alongside some promising youngsters who fit the format.
"We have a few Test cricketers in our four-day team. As we are scheduled to play Tests in Australia in 2027 according to our FTP schedule, we want to prioritise these players," Hannan was quoted in a BCB video released on Wednesday.
"Similar goes for one-day and T20 teams. I think it's a very good stage where the players can express themselves and gather experience," he added.
"We want to continue the process and increase the facilities from the board," he added.
The T20 tournament promises to be a thrilling spectacle, pitting the Bangladesh HP unit against seven local teams. They'll face stern opposition from Big Bash League giants Perth Scorchers and Adelaide Strikers, alongside fellow contenders. The tournament schedule sees Bangladesh take on the Melbourne Renegades on 11th August, followed by clashes against Tasmania (12th August), Adelaide (14th August), ACC Comets (15th August), Pakistan Shaheens (16th August), and their final group stage match against an opponent to be confirmed on 17th August. The knockout stages, including the semi-finals and the final, will be played on 18th August.
But the Australian adventure doesn't stop there! Prior to the T20 tournament, the Bangladesh HP unit will lock horns with the Pakistan team in two four-day matches and two 50-over encounters – a valuable opportunity to hone their skills against a formidable opponent.
