Shadman Islam, the Bangladesh Test opener, has had his preparations for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour as he has missed the first round of NCL after testing COVID-19 positive.
It was made mandatory by the Bangladesh Cricket Board for the Test probables to take part in the NCL to prepare well for the two-match series in Sri Lanka, starting April 21 in Pallekele.
The BCB has given a great level of importance to the NCL, which began on March 22, as it couldn’t stage the first-class competition last season because of the pandemic. The board is going ahead with the tournament this year after taking confidence from safely organising BCB President’s Cup and Bangabandhu T20 in recent months.
I am in isolation at the moment in the hotel and waiting for my third corona report to arrive and if that is negative I will be able to play,
Shadman told Cricbuzz.
Dhaka Metro’s Shadman was looking forward to the competition after missing the second Test at home against West Indies due to a groin injury.
Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque was allowed to play the NCL
Bangladesh Test captain Mominul Haque, however, was allowed to play the first round of NCL despite giving initial positive tests for corona on March 19. Haque had a lucky escape as he gave a negative test in the following round of testing.
Bangladesh were originally scheduled to play three Tests in Sri Lanka in July 2020, but those matches were postponed due to the pandemic challenges. BCC rescheduled the calendar for October, but then the board raised the issue about the compulsory 14-day quarantine. Subsequently, the tour couldn’t go ahead.
Finally, the series will be held in April when Bangladesh face Sri Lanka for two Tests as part of the inaugural World Test Championship cycle. Both teams are already out of the finals race but will have a point to prove in a rivalry that has only grown in spice with time.
