Cricket Australia has confirmed Australia’s T20 International tour of Bangladesh will follow the current white ball tour of the Caribbean, extending preparations ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup in October and November.
The tour has been mooted for some time, but the confirmation comes midway through the three-match One-Day International series against West Indies.
Australia will travel straight to Bangladesh from Barbados and play five T20I’s at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka from August 3rd to August 9th.
Bangladesh is in the midst of an eight-day pause of a strict Covid-19 lockdown, which the government is allowing for celebrations of the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha.
There are fears that the pause could lead to a surge in the Delta variant of the coronavirus.
But Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley confirmed that satisfactory biosecurity measures have been met.
All but two of the squad were fully vaccinated before travelling to the Caribbean and those players were due to receive their shots before arriving in Bangladesh.
“We would like to thank our friends at the Bangladesh Cricket Board for developing a detailed bio-security plan to keep players, staff and match officials safe,” said Hockley.
“Both boards have worked extremely hard to do all we can to ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved in the tour.
“We are looking forward to a competitive and entertaining series in Dhaka as both teams continue their preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup later this year.”
"The BCB and Cricket Australia have worked tirelessly together for confirming the itinerary,” said BCB CEO Nizam Uddin Chowdhury in a statement.
“Naturally this was a challenge due to the COVID-19 pandemic as ensuring health safety and security is a priority prerequisite for holding any cricket series in these times.
“I am pleased to say that a comprehensive bio-security plan is in place and will be implemented during the tour for the protection of players and staff of the two teams and the match officials.”
Australia and Bangladesh have only played against each other in the T20 format on four occasions, all of which took place during World Cups.
The last time Australia toured the country was in 2017, when they played two Tests.
The five T20s are Australia’s only scheduled fixtures before the World Cup in the UAE and Oman and will follow a disappointing 4-1 series loss to West Indies.
No additional players will join the squad currently in the Caribbean for the Bangladesh leg of the winter tour.
The squad will depart for Dhaka after the third ODI against West Indies on Sunday.
