India vs Bangladesh: One-off Test postponed to February 9

Hyderabad: The one-off Test between India and Bangladesh has been pushed by a day and will now take place from Feb 9-13 here. “We have received the notification from BCCI. The game will start on Thursday instead of Wednesday, February 8,” John Manoj, Hyderabad Cricket Association secretary, confirmed to PTI. The BCCI feels that overall crowd attendance over five days will be better with the game beginning on a Thursday. Bangladesh have toured India in the past for multi-team events but has never played a Test or bilateral series against the home team. Bangladesh are currently playing in New Zealand and they are expected to arrive in India by February 1, after which they would play a three-day warm-up match followed by the Test.

Bangladesh are scheduled to play a three-day warm-up game in their India tour ahead of a one-off Test match. The warm-up match will be played against India A from February 3 in Hyderabad, Espncricinfo said in a report. The Test, which was originally scheduled to begin on February 8, has been pushed back by one day, reports bdnews24.com. Keeping in mind an option to attract more crowds, the BCCI made the late change in schedule to hold the match from Thursday to Monday.

Add Cricket Country as a Preferred Source

ALSO READ: Hyderabad ready to host India-Bangladesh Test without BCCI funds?

The Bangladesh team, currently touring New Zealand, will return home on January 26. After a few days’ rest, Mushfiqur Rahim and his men will leave for India on February 1. Bangladesh have announced a 30-member provisional squad for the tour.

Young pacer Mustafizur Rahman may return to the Test side on that trip. Bangladesh in their maiden Test in 2000 played India, who are now the top-ranked Test team. India visited Bangladesh in 2004, 2007, 2010 and 2015. But this will be the first time Bangladesh will play a Test in India.