IPL
IPL 2021: Delhi secure Qualifier 1 with 3-wicket win against Chennai
Delhi Capitals have secured the qualifier 1 spot in the playoffs round after defeating Chennai Super Kings by 3 wickets in Dubai. Delhi currently top the points table with 20 points and a game in hand. They will play Royal Challengers Bangalore on Friday (October 8) and have a chance to finish top in the IPL 2021 round-robin league points table. On the other hand, Chennai must win their last league match against Punjab Kings on Thursday (October 7) to finish in the top two spots in the standings. The match report of CSK vs. DC is discussed in this article.
Match Report: CSK vs. DC
Delhi Capitals captain Rishab Pant chose to field first against Chennai Super Kings on Monday in Dubai.
Chennai’s Innings
Chennai Super Kings batted first and managed to score 136/5 In their allocated 20 overs. They got off to a good start, as the opening pair put up 28 runs in three overs. However, Chennai's batting collapsed when Faf Du Plessis left the crease, as they lost four wickets for 62 runs in nine overs.
Read: IPL 2021: Kolkata, Mumbai, Rajasthan in three-way race for a playoffs spot
Indian spinner Axar Patel was the real difference-maker between the two teams. He provided the first breakthrough for Delhi by taking Faf Du Plessis' wicket. He also sent Moeen Ali back to the pavilion in the eighth over.
MS Dhoni and Ambati Rayudu put on a 70-run partnership to help Chennai rebuild their innings. They kept a close eye on the scoreboard in the middle but didn't strive too hard to accelerate the run rates. These two players stayed at the crease till the last over for a competitive total. However, they were unable to produce big shots in the death overs and were forced to settle for a low total. Ambati Rayudu scored the highest runs with 55 off 43 balls, while Dhoni made 18 runs.
Delhi's spinners had shown excellent discipline in the middle. They were on target and didn't let them free their arms. Axar Patel took the highest two wickets for 18 runs in his four overs. Ravi Ashwin and pacer Kagiso Rabada were both outstanding with the ball for Delhi.
Read: KKR vs. PBKS: KL Rahul guides Punjab to 5-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2021
Delhi’s Innings
Delhi Capitals bowlers did their job very well by limiting Chennai to a manageable score. Delhi reached the 137-run target with two balls to spare.
Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan gave Delhi a solid start with a 24-run opening partnership between them. Dhawan assumed control of the innings following the departure of Prithvi Shaw (18). Delhi looked strong in the middle but their batting order crumbled, and things looked worse when Dhawan (39) lost his wicket in the 15th over. Delhi were 99/6 at the time.
Delhi fought back with an undefeated 28* off 18 balls knock from West Indian power batter Shimron Hetmyer, and triumphed in 19.4 overs. Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur were outstanding with the ball. For Chennai, they each took two wickets.
Read T20 World Cup: Bangladesh team reaches Oman
Player of the Match
Delhi Capitals spinner Axar Patel was named the best player of the match for his brilliant effort with the ball.
Bottom Line
Chennai Super Kings have now lost two consecutive games, and the momentum has shifted back to the Delhi Capitals, who have won two successive matches. Chennai must defeat Punjab in order to secure qualifier 1 spot in the playoffs. Otherwise, they will have to rely on the results of Bangalore's fixtures.
Chennai's top order struggled against Delhi, putting the middle order under strain. As a result, they had to settle for a low total to defend. Chennai's top order must rediscover their best rhythm before the crucial playoffs round. On the other side, the Rishab Pant-led Delhi Capitals team has done well as a unit. They have the depth and balance in their squad to win the IPL 2021 tournament.
Read: IPL 2021: Shakib's Kolkata leads over Mustafiz's Rajasthan in the playoffs race
IPL 2021: Kolkata, Mumbai, Rajasthan in three-way race for a playoffs spot
Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Royal Challengers Bangalore have already qualified for the Indian Premier League's 14th season playoffs. On the other hand, Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians, and Rajasthan Royals are vying for the last playoff spot. Punjab Kings are still in the race mathematically, but their chances are primarily dependent on the results of the round-robin league's other fixtures. Who have a better chance of qualifying for the IPL 2021 playoffs are discussed in this article.
Read: KKR vs. PBKS: KL Rahul guides Punjab to 5-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2021
IPL 2021: Who will be the Fourth Team in the Playoffs?
Chennai Super Kings lead the IPL 2021 points standings with 18 points as of October 3rd. On the other hand, holding the bottom position with 4 points, Sunrisers Hyderabad are on the verge of getting out of the tournament.
IPL 2021 points table (as of October 3)
Team
Match
Win
Lost
Points
NRR
CSK (Q)
12
9
3
18
0.829
DC (Q)
12
9
3
18
0.551
RCB (Q)
12
8
4
16
-0.157
KKR
13
6
7
12
0.294
PBKS
13
5
8
10
-0.241
RR
12
5
7
10
-0.337
MI
12
5
7
10
-0.453
SRH
12
2
10
4
-0.475
Read IPL 2021: Shakib's Kolkata leads over Mustafiz's Rajasthan in the playoffs race
Kolkata Knight Riders
Shakib Al Hasan was finally given an opportunity to take part in the playing XI in Kolkata's most recent encounter against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Shakib contributed with the ball, picking up a wicket in his four overs. Kolkata won the match by 6 wickets and climbed to the fourth position in the points standings. In the round-robin league stage, the Knight Riders have only one game left. However, they outperform the Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals in terms of run rate. If Kolkata win their next match against Rajasthan Royals on October 7, they will qualify for the playoffs (Thursday). They won't have to rely on the outcomes of other games.
Read: IPL 2021: Will Shakib Al Hasan Play in a crucial MI vs. KKR match?
Mumbai Indians
Mumbai Indians were beaten by Delhi Capitals by four wickets in their most recent match, dropping to second last in the points standings. The next match for Mumbai is on Tuesday against Rajasthan Royals (October 5). The Mumbai Indians must win the game by a large margin to improve their run rates. Furthermore, whoever lose the match will be eliminated from contention for a final playoffs spot.
Rajasthan Royals
Rajasthan Royals have struggled to put up their best performances in the UAE phase of the IPL 2021. They have won two and lost three in their last five matches. Rajasthan won their latest match against tournament favorites Chennai Super Kings by 7 wickets in Abu Dhabi and showed some promise as a unit. Bangladesh's Mustafizur Rahman has been one of Rajasthan's most consistent players with the ball. He has the potential to play a pivotal role in their upcoming games against Mumbai Indians (October 5) and Kolkata Knight Riders (October 7). Rajasthan will move to the next round if they win both games.
Read: IPL 2021: Scenarios of Playoffs Qualification for Eight Teams
Verdict
If the top two teams in the league stage lose their qualifier 1 match of the knockout round, they will be given another opportunity in the playoffs. Therefore, Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Royal Challengers Bangalore are all hoping to finish in the top two positions in the points table.
On the other hand, Kolkata Knight Riders are in a great position to make the final playoffs spot despite having only one match remaining. If Mumbai, Rajasthan, and Kolkata lose any of their remaining matches, they will be eliminated from the competition. The remainder of the round-robin league fixtures of IPL 2021 will surely be thrilling.
Read T20 World Cup: Bangladesh team reaches Oman
KKR vs. PBKS: KL Rahul guides Punjab to 5-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2021
Punjab Kings needed to win over Kolkata Knight Riders to stay in contention for a playoff spot in IPL 2021. They won the match courtesy of a short cameo by Shahrukh Khan while chasing a challenging total. Punjab and Kolkata currently have the same number of points in the standings, with the net run rate separating them. Knight Riders will play two of the bottom teams in their next two matches. On the other hand, the Kings will play RCB and CSK in their final round-robin league matchups. The match report of KKR vs. PBKS is discussed in this article.
Match Report: KKR vs. PBKS
Punjab Kings skipper KL Rahul chose to bat first against Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday in Dubai.
Kolkata’s Innings
Kolkata batted first and scored 165/7 in their allotted 20 overs. They lost their star opener, Shubman Gill in the third over with only 18 runs on the board. However, a 72-run partnership between Venkatesh Iyer and Rahul Tripathi for the second wicket helped Kolkata reach 90 runs in 12 overs.
Read IPL 2021: Shakib's Kolkata leads over Mustafiz's Rajasthan in the playoffs race
Knight Riders were on set for 200 runs at that point. However, Punjab managed to disrupt the flow of runs by taking two successive wickets in the 14th and 15th overs, respectively.
In the dying overs, Nitesh Rana's fiery batting helped Kolkata put up a competitive total on the board. Venkatesh Iyer scored the highest 67 runs for the Knight Riders. Apart from him, Rahul Tripathi made 34 runs and Nitesh Rana played a 31 off 18 balls knock. Arshdeep Singh was a little expensive, but he took the highest three wickets for Punjab Kings.
Punjab’s Innings
Chasing a difficult target, openers KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal gave Punjab Kings a perfect start with a 70-run stand between them in 8.5 overs. They were a bit watchful but they kept a solid pace in the middle.
Kolkata's spinner Varun Chakravarthy provided the much-needed breakthrough in the ninth over, dismissing Mayank Agarwal (40). He struck again in two overs, sending West Indian Nicholas Pooran back to the pavilion.
Read Tigers to leave for T20 World Cup on October 3
KL Rahul and Proteas power hitter Aiden Markram then put up a crucial 45-run partnership to take the total to 129 in 16 overs. Markram lost his wicket after an important 18-run innings.
Despite losing wickets at the other end, Captain KL Rahul stayed at the crease till the last over and made sure Punjab remained in the chase. Rahul's anchoring innings (67) came to an end in the second delivery of the 20th over.
Punjab's young power hitter Shahrukh Khan played a key role with the bat. He scored an unbeaten 22* from 9 balls to give Punjab a five-wicket victory. Kolkata's most successful bowler was Varun Chakravarthy (4-0-24-2).
Read Mushfiqur, Imrul hit fifties as Bangladesh A register easy win
Player of the Match
Punjab Kings captain KL Rahul was named the best player of the match for his guided 67-run innings.
Bottom Line
Kolkata lost the KKR vs. PBKS contest after three consecutive victories in the UAE phase. Kolkata cannot afford to lose momentum at this crucial stage of the round-robin league. The Knight Riders must win their next two matches for a playoff berth. Otherwise, Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings will seize the opportunity and move up the points table.
On the other hand, defeating Kolkata was a huge result for the Punjab team. Now they are heading to their next two matches with greater confidence. Punjab's next two opponents, Chennai Super Kings, and Royal Challengers Bangalore have already qualified for the playoffs. Both teams may deploy some young players against Punjab in order to test the strength of their respective squads. If they do, Punjab will have the upper hand in both the fixtures.
Read BCB election 2021: 32 candidates submit nomination papers
IPL 2021: Shakib's Kolkata leads over Mustafiz's Rajasthan in the playoffs race
Kolkata Knight Riders are ahead of Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2021 round-robin league points table. Kolkata Knight Riders resumed their campaign with a thumping win over Royal Challengers Bangalore, moving them into fourth place in the points standings. On the other hand, Rajasthan Royals resumed with a narrow victory against Punjab Kings before losing three consecutive matches. Any defeat from this stage onward will be a huge setback for both teams. Let's have a look at who has the best chance of making it to the next round.
Read: IPL 2021: Will Shakib Al Hasan Play in a crucial MI vs. KKR match?
IPL 2021 Playoffs Race: Kolkata Knight Riders vs. Rajasthan Royals
Kolkata Knight Riders have accumulated 10 points in 11 games. While Rajasthan Royals have 8 points in the same number of matches. Among others, Mumbai Indians have 10 points, but Kolkata have better run rates than Mumbai. On the other hand, Punjab Kings have 8 points, and Sunrisers Hyderabad have only 4.
Kolkata Knight Riders
Kolkata Knight Riders were behind Rajasthan Royals in the points table before the IPL 2021 resumed in mid-September in UAE. However, they made an encouraging start in the UAE phase, winning three of their past four league games. They are now in fourth place, ahead of the defending champion Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals.
Kolkata defeated Bangalore by a crushing 9-wicket margin on September 20. They defeated Mumbai Indians by 7 wickets on September 23. However, they were defeated by Chennai Super Kings by a mere 2-wicket margin on September 26. Kolkata fought back strong against Delhi Capitals, winning by three wickets on Tuesday (September 28).
Read:IPL 2021: Scenarios of Playoffs Qualification for Eight Teams
Kolkata's current team combination has looked solid, and they are on track to maintain their domination over their opponents. Bangladesh's star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has yet to play a match in the UAE phase, and he is unlikely to do so before the end of the round-robin league.
So far, Rahul Tripathi has scored the most runs (315 in 10 innings) for Kolkata with a strike rate of 144.49. On the other hand, Prasidh Krishna has 12 wickets in 10 innings at a strike rate of 19.2 for the Knight Riders.
Kolkata Knight Rider’s remaining fixtures:
01/10/2021: Punjab Kings (at Dubai)
03/10/2021: Sunrisers Hyderabad (at Dubai)
07/10/2021: Rajasthan Royals (at Sharjah)
IPL 2021: Will Shakib Al Hasan Play in a crucial MI vs. KKR match?
Kolkata Knight Riders resumed their IPL 2021 campaign in Abu Dhabi with a 9-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bangalore. Kolkata's bowling unit was outstanding in the match. Bangalore were bowled out for 92 runs, and Kolkata needed only 10 overs to reach the target. Kolkata could deploy their winning eleven in the MI vs. KKR match on Thursday (September 23) in Abu Dhabi, thus Shakib Al Hasan's chance of making the playing XI is minimal. On the other hand, Mumbai Indians restarted their season with a 20-run loss against Chennai Super Kings. They will be eager to regain their winning rhythm.
Read: IPL 2021: Scenarios of Playoffs Qualification for Eight Teams
MI vs. KKR: Team News
With 8 points, the Mumbai Indians are in fifth place, while the Kolkata Knight Riders are in sixth place with 6 points. The 14th season of the IPL is currently at a pivotal moment, with each team vying for a top spot in the standings. Losing a match means a big drop in the points table, and net run rate is an important consideration as well.
Two of Mumbai Indians' key players Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya did not participate in the match against Chennai Super Kings. These two might play in the match against the Kolkata Knight Riders. Aside from that, any changes to the Mumbai playing XI are unlikely.
Read: Kohli to step down from Bangalore captaincy after IPL season
Most runs (Mumbai): Rohit Sharma (250) | Most Wickets (Mumbai): Rahul Chahar (11)
Probable Playing XI (Mumbai):
Rohit Sharma (captain), Quinton de Kock (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Adam Milne, Rahul Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah
The Kolkata Knight Riders are unlikely to make any changes to their lineup. For Kolkata, Andre Russell, Varun Chakravarthy, and Lockie Ferguson were all outstanding with the ball against Bangalore. Batsmen had little trouble chasing down the target after a superb bowling performance. As a result, Eoin Morgan and the rest of the team will put their faith in these players to confront the defending IPL champion Mumbai Indians. Shakib Al Hasan will have to wait till the next match if Kolkata stick with the same lineup. Shakib has to play more regularly in order to thrive in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Read: Mustafizur departs for Dubai to play IPL
Most runs (Kolkata): Nitesh Rana (201) | Most Wickets (Kolkata): Andre Russell (10)
Probable Playing XI (Kolkata):
Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, Rahul Tripathi, Nitish Rana, Eoin Morgan (captain), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Lockie Ferguson, Prasidh Krishna, Varun Chakravarthy
Match Time (MI vs KKR): 8 pm (Bangladesh Standard Time) | Venue: Sheikh Zayed Stadium (Abu Dhabi)
Read:IPL 2021: Those who are at the Top Before the Tournament Resume
Head-to-Head: MI vs. KKR
Mumbai Indians have an excellent recent record against Kolkata Knight Riders. They have won 12 times in the past 13 meetings with Kolkata. So, Knight Riders have recently found it difficult to compete with the Indians.
Both teams have played each other 28 times in total. Mumbai leads the head-to-head record with 22 victories, while Kolkata have only won 6 games.
Read: Shakib, Mustafizur unlikely to play in the remainder of IPL 2021
Bottom Line
Kolkata Knight Riders are in desperate need of a win, as they have only 6 points from their first eight games. Knight Riders must win at least four more matches in the next six in order to qualify for the playoffs. It's crucial for the Kolkata team to keep their winning streak intact. On the other hand, Mumbai Indians have 8 points from 8 games and need to win at least three of their remaining matches. Therefore, we may anticipate a competitive clash between these two teams, with the winner moving up the IPL 2021 points table.
Kohli to step down from Bangalore captaincy after IPL season
Virat Kohli will step down as captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore at the end of this season's Indian Premier League.
Kohli had already announced he will relinquish the captaincy of India in the Twenty20 format after the T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in October and November.
“(I’ve) spoken to the squad this evening, before the second leg of the tournament starts, to inform everyone that this is going to be my last leg in the IPL as captain of our city,” Kohli said in a video message posted on RCB’s Twitter account on Sunday.
Also read: Virat Kohli to step down as India's T20 skipper
“(This was) something that was on my mind for a while … to manage my workload which has been immense over the last so many years. I want to continue to be committed to the responsibilities that I’m fulfilling, and I felt I needed the space to refresh, to regroup and be absolutely clear in how I want to move forward.”
Kohli has led Bangalore since 2013 but has not yet won the world's most lucrative T20 league. Kohli said he will continue with Bangalore as a player.
“I’ve made it clear to the management that, you know, I can’t think of me being in any other team than RCB,” he said. “That has been my commitment from Day 1 (and) I will continue to be RCB player till I play my last game in the IPL.”
Also read: IPL 2021: Those who are at the Top Before the Tournament Resume
Bangalore is currently third after winning five of its seven games in India before the IPL was suspended in May due to coronavirus. The league resumed in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday with Chennai Super Kings beating defending champions Mumbai Indians by 20 runs.
Bangalore plays Kolkata Knight Riders on Monday.
IPL 2021: Those who are at the Top Before the Tournament Resume
The IPL 2021 was postponed earlier this year due to the coronavirus epidemic in India. Later, the BCCI contacted the United Arab Emirates to host the remaining tournament during the September-October period. The decision was made within a month, and the UAE was picked to host the remainder of the competition. The UAE and Oman will co-host the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 in October-November window following this franchise-based Twenty20 competition. Only 29 matches were played in the IPL 2021 before it was postponed. Before the IPL 2021 resumes in September, let's take a look at who's at the top.
Shakib, Mustafizur unlikely to play in the remainder of IPL 2021
The 14th edition of the IPL was postponed to the end of April due to a massive outbreak of epidemic coronavirus in India. The BCCI had to take that decision as several cricketers were infected with the coronavirus. The rest of the postponed tournament will take place in September in the UAE. Bangladesh will be playing multiple international series at the same time, that's why the BCB does not want to give a no-objection certificate to Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman. This article discusses why Shakib and Mustafizur will not be given NOC for playing in the remainder of IPL 2021.
The probable reason why BCB is reluctant to give NOC to Shakib and Mustafizur
The much-anticipated seventh edition of the ICC T20 World Cup will take place in the months of November and December. To put it another way, this ICC mega-event will take place in five months. India is the host nation of this year's event, but due to the Corona crisis, it might be staged in the United Arab Emirates or any other country in the Middle East.
Read: ICC announces major changes to cricket world cup format
The BCB is serious about the ICC T20 World Cup. Bangladesh will play a number of international series both at home and overseas to prepare the cricketers well in the next four months. Besides, the Dhaka Premier League T20 Cricket League is being held in June and the cricketers will be busy with this domestic league. Therefore, the Bangladesh Cricket Board has determined that players will not be permitted to partake in any other franchise league outside of Bangladesh at this time.
Several Bangladeshi cricketers have been picked to play in the Pakistan Super League, Indian Premier League, and Caribbean Premier League. No Bangladeshi cricketer will participate in the PSL which will resume on June 7. There is no possibility of any Bangladeshi cricketer participating in the Caribbean Premier League in August-September and the rest of IPL 2021 in September as well.
The world's best all-rounder, Shakib Al Hasan has got the opportunity to participate in all of the franchise tournaments. But he will not play in these franchise leagues owing to a simultaneous international schedule. In this year's IPL, Shakib played only three matches for Kolkata.
On the other hand, Mustafizur Rahman has been one of the best performers for Rajasthan Royals in the 12th season of the IPL. Mustafiz played in every match for Rajasthan before the IPL was postponed. No doubt, the Rajasthan team will be dissatisfied if they don't obtain this left-arm quick bowler.
The second phase of the unfinished IPL 2021 may resume on September 19, and the final may be held on October 10.
Read: DPL T20 2021: Shakib Al Hasan Shines in First Round
The BCB president recently informed a private TV channel why he is hesitant to provide Shakib and Mustafiz a no-objection certificate. Given Bangladesh's hectic international cricket schedule in the next few months, NazmulHasanPapon believes it is not reasonable to allow these two players to participate in the IPL. Because, in his opinion, every series leading up to the World Cup is crucial.
Prior to the T20 World Cup, the Bangladesh national cricket team will tour Zimbabwe next July to play a series consisting of Test, ODI, and T20I. After that, they will play ODI and T20 series against England, a five-match T20 series against Australia, and a three-match T20 series against New Zealand.
Bottom Line
The Bangladesh Cricket Board intends to properly prepare the national team for the upcoming T20 World Cup. The cricket board hopes to improve the cricketers both physically and mentally in the following four months. In that circumstance, it's important to keep an eye on the cricketers at all times. Because a slight mistake might lead to serious injury to players. So even if there is an opportunity, the BCB does not want to allow the players to play in any outside franchise league at the moment.
Read: Top 5 Most Followed Athletes Across Social Media Platforms
Shakib prefers DPL over PSL
Bangladesh allrounder Shakib Al Hasan may miss the remainder of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) for what he has been contracted with the Lahore Qalandars in the replacement draft recently.
The allrounder is reportedly more interested to take part in the Dhaka Premeir Divison Cricket League which is set to begin on May 31.
Mohammedan Sporting Club has bid to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to secure the service of Shakib.
Also read: BCB trying to relax quarantine rules for Shakib, Mustafiz
The allrounder missed the last season of the league, which was cancelled after only one round of the games, due to his ban.
Since he is a free player now, any team can bid to secure his service.
Tarikul Islam Tito, a Mohammedan official, has recently submitted a letter to the BCB saying that the allrounder is keen to take part in Dhaka League for them. Tarikul said to the Cricbuzz that the board is yet to say yes to them.
Also read: Shakib Al Hasan vs Mustafizur Rahman: Who is the most successful player in IPL?
“Instead of playing PSL, Shakib is interested to take part in Dhaka League for us. He was not a part of the league last season, and he is now a free player who can sign for any team. We have sown our interest to secure his service,” Tarikul told the media.
Shakib was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders in the recently-suspended Indian Premier League (IPL). He somewhat was out of form in this cash-rich event.
Along with Shakib, Bangladesh allrounder Mahmudullah Riyad and wicketkeeper-batsman Liton Das were also contracted with two different PSL franchises. But like Shakib, these two are also uncertain for the remainder of PSL which may take place in early July.
Also read: Mahmudullah, Shakib and Liton set to feature in PSL
This year’s Dhaka League will be played in the T20 format, unlike the other seasons. Kazi Inam Ahmed, the chairman of the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis (CCDM), has earlier said that due to the Covid-19 situation around the country, they like to host the league in a shorter period of time.
“As decided earlier it will be a T20 event. Considering the busy international schedule and the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup, we believe that T20 is the ideal format for the 2019-20 League,” he told in a statement early this month.
BCB trying to relax quarantine rules for Shakib, Mustafiz
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is trying to convince the government to relax the quarantine rules for Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman, the board's CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury said Saturday.
Shakib and Mustafiz returned home from India on Thursday, and are under a 14-day institutional quarantine in Dhaka.
Both players were playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL), which was suspended as some cricketers had tested positive for Covid-19.
Although the government's Covid protocol requires all the inbound passengers to go through a mandatory 14-day quarantine period, the general protocol is not supposed to apply to athletes, Nizamuddin said.
Also read: Shakib, Mustafizur return to Dhaka
"We are not expecting any special arrangement or privilege for Shakib and Mustafiz. The Covid protocol followed by our country is for general people. But it is different for the international players.
"The general protocol is for people who come to the country by passenger flight after receiving a Covid negative certificate, but Shakib and Mustafiz returned home in a chartered flight and maintained a tight protocol," the BCB CEO added.
He also said the board was working closely with the health authority to minimise the quarantine period of these two cricketers.
The BCB earlier urged the health authority to reduce the period of quarantine for them, but the Directorate General of Health Services declined the request.
Also read: 14-day quarantine must for Shakib, Mustafizur
The Tigers are scheduled to play a three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka starting May 23.
If the authority stays firm to not reduce the quarantine period of Shakib and Mustafiz, the players will have to stay in institutional quarantine till May 19. This means they will get only four days to practice ahead of the series.
The Tigers recently played a two-match Test series against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka and lost it 1-0.
Bangladesh's last ODI series was in New Zealand where they lost the series 3-0 to the hosts.