Tigers’ SL tour in the balance

International cricket in some parts of the world is set to resume, but Bangladesh's upcoming Sri Lanka tour scheduled for July for a three-match Test series is still uncertain amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

With the BCB yet to make any decision regarding the series, a lot will depend on the next International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting, scheduled for today, where the future of the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia and other key matters are to be discussed.

Even with a potential tour to Sri Lanka looming, the biggest challenge for the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will be the resumption of cricket or at least practice sessions in the country ahead of any international tours. Given the current coronavirus situation in the country -- with reported cases and deaths increasing every other day -- the players may even face the risk of infection when resuming practice ahead of the tour.

The BCB may also have to take into consideration some other factors while making a decision regarding the upcoming tour. Cricket and other sports in Bangladesh have been halted since March and the players have all been staying at home, doing their bit to stay fit with indoor workouts.

This state of affairs raises the question of how practical it would be for the players to suddenly participate in an international tour after such a long downtime.

The players will also need to adjust and adhere to the guidelines for safe resumption of cricket provided by the ICC. According to the guidelines, apart from following a number of hygiene rules while on tour, individual players or entire teams will have to adhere to the potential measure of self-isolation or quarantine upon entering another country and after returning to their country.

BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury however ensured that the board will not make any compromises with health issues and will only make a decision after consulting with the players.

"There will be no compromise with health issues. Players are our main stakeholders. Without their consent, we will not take any decision. So, there is no point being paranoid about the upcoming tour," Nizamuddin told The Daily Star yesterday.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Test skipper Mominul Haque said players would comply with whatever the BCB decides.

"The BCB has been regularly contacting us regarding this. As it is a Test series, they have been communicating with me and other senior players continuously. At the end of the day it is the board who will be observing everything and make a decision. And we will comply with whatever the board decides," said Mominul.