Zim A tour of Bangladesh postponed

HARARE. — The Zimbabwe A tour to Bangladesh has been postponed, at the request of the host board.
The Zimbabwe A squad was set to leave at the end of this month for the tour, but the Bangladesh Cricket Board wrote to Zimbabwe Cricket saying that an August schedule for their A team had been cancelled and so they now wanted to host Zimbabwe then, given that it is a better time in terms of rain and (conditions).
Indeed, the monsoons are already disrupting play during the ongoing India tour of Bangladesh.

Further, July is the month of Ramadan, the Muslim period of fasting, and the religious festival of Eid.
Unfortunately, Zimbabwe could not take up the offer because August has already been committed to the One-Day International triangular series involving Australia and South Africa, and a number of the players who would be on the Bangladesh tour are also in line for senior team call-ups.

The two boards are now in discussion about Zimbabwe A touring Bangladesh in September.
The host board has already drawn up a provisional itinerary for that month, which is now under consideration.
“The Zimbabwe A tour to Bangladesh is vital for the next best tier of Zimbabwe cricket which we need to keep exposing to quality competition so that it puts pressure on the senior players thus raising the standard of our play,” said ZC managing director Wilfred Mukondiwa.

“We will therefore remain in talks with the BCB to ensure that the tour happens. Indeed, it is in the mutual interest of both parties.”
Meanwhile, the squad which had been preparing for the Zimbabwe A tour to Bangladesh went back into camp yesterday, this time as part of the training squad for the August tour by South Africa, which will be followed up by the ODI triangular series including Australia. — Zim Cricket.