Ahead of the tour of Sri Lanka for three Tests, 16 cricketers started practice at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Sunday instead of 27 as 10 cricketers are put in isolation with the suspicion of Covid-19.

A total of 27 cricketers were supposed to join the camp, but 16 cricketers were present on day one. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) says 10 cricketers are in isolation with the suspicion of Covid-19. 

BCB has earlier manifested that the cricketers would undergo a total of four different Covid-19 tests before flying for the island nation. In the first test, Saif Hassan, the left-handed opener was the only cricketer who was found positive for Covid-19. He took another test last week and returned positive again. 

Cricketers gave the sample for the second test on Friday and Saturday and all have been tested negative. But some of the players, BCB haven’t revealed their names, are showing symptoms despite being negative in the Covid-19 test. 

As per the advice of the medical department, BCB decided to keep the cricketers, who came to the contact with who are showing symptoms, in isolation, and they will undergo another test on September 22.

"Out of the 27 cricketers for the Bangladesh team tested on 18 and 19 September 2020, two cases have been identified as ‘borderline negative’ with one of them showing classical Covid-19-like symptoms. As per the Covid-19 management guideline and to maintain Bio-Secure Environment standards, the symptomatic individual along with all the players who have been in close contact with him recently, have been isolated until the next test on 22 September," a BCB statement about the issue reads. 

The cricketers who are in isolation tell September 22 are: Mohammad Mithun, Hasan Mahmud, Naeem Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, Abu Jayed, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Shafiul Islam and Mohammad Saifuddin. 

Meanwhile, BCB is still waiting for a positive response from the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) who are negotiating with the health department of the island nation so that they allow a shorter quarantine period for the Bangladesh cricket team. 

As per the Sri Lankan government's regulation, everyone who enters the island nation is required to undergo a 14-day strict quarantine. But BCB has urged SLC to trim this period to seven days. But the Sri Lanka health department refused the idea which has fallen in jeopardy. 

The SriLanka series was originally scheduled for July-August, but due to the Covid-19 situation, the series was rescheduled in October-November. Bangladesh have played three World Test Championship matches till the date and lost all of them.

Also read: Covid-19: 18 Tigers free of virus after 2nd round of testing

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is testing all the members of the national team several times for Covid-19 ahead of the three-match Test series against Sri Lanka. In the second round of tests, all 18 cricketers who gave their samples returned negative, BCB confirmed on Saturday.

Other nine members of the national team gave their sample on Saturday, and they are expecting their result on Sunday.

“18 members who gave their sample on Friday are negative. Other nine members of the national team, who were out of Dhaka, gave their on Saturday and will get their result on Sunday. Of them, whoever returns negative will join the team to check-in at the hotel for the residential camp,” Debashis Chowdhury, the chief physician of BCB, told UNB.

Meanwhile, BCB announces a 27-member squad for skill training on Saturday. They will join a week-long camp starting from Sunday. This squad will be trimmed later before flying for the island nation.

The series, however, is still uncertain as the health department of Sri Lanka is yet to say yes due to the Covid-19 restriction. But BCB is hopeful of a positive response from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) within the next few days.

Also read: Sri Lanka Tour: BCB calls up 27 for skill training camp

Ahead of the proposed Sri Lanka tour for three Tests, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Saturday evening announced a 27-member squad for a skill training camp starting on Sunday.

The training camp will kickoff on Sunday and continue to September 27 at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. During the period, this squad will stay in the hotel which will be bio-secured.

As per the current schedule, the Bangladesh team will fly for Sri Lanka on September 27. However, this series is still in jeopardy due to the Covid-19 restrictions proposed by the Sri Lanka government.

Everyone who enters Sri Lanka is required to undergo a 14-day strict quarantine. Sri Lanka health department took this measure aiming to stop the potential spread of the deadly coronavirus. BCB, however, urged for a shorter quarantine period, but the Sri Lanka health department has refused it.

Nizamuddin Chowdury, the CEO of BCB, on Saturday, said Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) had a positive discussion with the health department, and they are hopeful about the tour in time.

“We have told them what we need on the tour. After that, we have no discussion with them till the date. But we are hoping that the tour will go in time, and we will get their official confirmation within a few days,” Nizamuddin told the media.

“We can’t say what they actually discussed about because we didn’t get their official confirmation. But SLC told us that they had a fruitful and positive discussion with the health department. Before coming to know the official outcome, we are unable to disclose more,” he added.

Bangladesh asked SLC to arrange the initial camp in Dambulla. But SLC is yet to finalize this. BCB CEO hopes it’ll be not a problem once the health protocol is confirmed.

“We have discussed Dambulla. From a few options, we have preferred to stage our initial camp in this city. But it is yet to be confirmed. I hope once the health protocol is confirmed, it’ll not be a problem,” Nizamuddin further told the media.

Meanwhile, Craig McMillan, who was appointed as Bangladesh’s batting coach for the Sri Lanka tour, will not join the team following the demise of his father. Daniel Vettori, the spin bowling coach, is also doubtful for this series, while the other members of the coaching staff are all set to join the camp.

Squad for skill training: Mominul Haque, Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad, Shadman Islam, Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Md Mithun, Soumya Sarkar, Taijul Islam, Al Amin Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Imrul Kayes, Taskin Ahmed, Nurul Hossain Sohan, Shafiul Islam, Yasir Ali, Nayeem Hasan, Abu Jayed Rahi, Ebadot Hossain, Khaled Ahmed, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Musaddek Hossain Saikat, Hasan Mahmud, Mohammad Saifuddin and Saif Hassan

Also read: BCB awaits Sri Lanka’s response

Former New Zealand batsman Craig McMillan, who had been appointed Bangladesh batting consultant for the Tour of Sri Lanka 2020, has informed the BCB that he is unable to join the Bangladesh team  due to a loss in the family. 

BCB CEO Nizam Uddin Chowdhury on Saturday said: “Craig has communicated to us that his father has passed away recently and therefore it would not be possible for him to take up the batting consultant’s position of the Bangladesh National Cricket Team for the upcoming tour to Sri Lanka at this moment.

Also read: Craig McMillan now Bangladesh’s batting consultant

"We fully understand his situation. Our sympathies are with Craig and his family during this difficult time.”.he added.

Meanwhile, the ensuing tour of Bangladesh Cricket team to Sri Lanka to play a three-match Test Series, has become uncertain due to mandatory 14-day quarantine in the Island nation,, imposed by Sri Lankan Health authority .

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is still waiting for Sri Lanka’s positive response about the proposed three-match Test series, chairman of media and communication committee of BCB Jalal Younus said Thursday. 

This series was originally scheduled for July-August this year. But due to Covid-19 pandemic, the involved parties rescheduled it for October-November. 

Bangladesh national team is due to fly to Sri Lanka on September 27 but the regulation of Sri Lanka to prevent the spread of the virus put a big question before this plan.

As per Sri Lanka’s regulation, everyone who enters the island nation will have to maintain a strict 14-day quarantine. But BCB asked Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to trim this period to seven days. SLC said they have no problem with this but the health authority of Sri Lanka refused the proposal putting the series into jeopardy. 

“We’re yet to get a response from SLC. But as we understand, this matter is beyond SLC’s control. A special task force oversees the Covid-19 situation in Sri Lanka. If they allow us to tour the country with a shorter quarantine period, they’ll inform SLC and then they’ll tell us about it. What we have asked them is to ensure a shorter quarantine period and allow us to train during that period,” Jalal Younus told the media. 

This week, Nazmul Hassan, the BCB president told the media that if Sri Lanka stays firm on their current regulation of a mandatory 14-day quarantine, Bangladesh might not continue with the tour.

At this stage, Namal Rajapaksa, the cabinet minister of youth affairs and sports of Sri Lanka, urged SLC to negotiate with the health department so that they find a way to ease the restriction for the Tigers and make the series happens. 

SLC also came up with a new idea of two-country quarantine. As per this idea, Bangladesh team can stay isolated for seven days in Bangladesh before flying to Sri Lanka and undergo another seven-days isolation after reaching the island nation. 

But this idea seems nearly impossible. Neither the health department of Sri Lanka nor the BCB has so far said anything about the two-country quarantine idea. 

Despite the uncertainty over the tour, BCB is preparing the squad according to the previous plan. But the ongoing individual and small group training programme is on hold for three days. It will resume on September 20. Jalal Younus said the Bangladesh team is already prepared well for this tour.

“We’re well prepared for the tour. If they come up with a positive response, we can fly to Sri Lanka within a week. But if they delay more than a couple of days, it will make our preparation tough, and in that case, we have to think anew,” Jalal said.

Also read: Sri Lanka tour not possible now: BCB chief