The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has set out a plan to increase the number of Test venues in the country from two to five.
After the successfully staging of the Under-19 Cricket World Cup in eight different venues across the country last year, the Board has short-listed Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra, Khulna Divisional Stadium and Chittagong Divisional Stadium as possible venues for future international games.
Presently, both one-day and Test matches are being held at the all-purpose Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka and the MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong.
"If everything goes accordingly we are hopeful of holding at least one one-day international each in Bogra and Khulna during our home series against New Zealand," said BCB's grounds committee member secretary Rafiqul Islam Babu yesterday.
The Kiwis will fly to Bangladesh in October to play their first away series against the Tigers.
The Board has already started its groundwork to upgrade the three venues before the arrival of an ICC inspection team in July.
"I think there is little chance to get a negative response from the ICC inspectors because the three venues have already impressed the high-ups of the game's ruling body during the U-19 World Cup. ICC president Ehsan Mani has already spoken highly of the Khulna Divisional Stadium," he said.
"The ground staff have already put everything in place and I think all the venues are ready to hold international matches. Besides, the media committee is also working out details of the facilities needed for each venue."
However, the Board decided to explore new venues apparently in an effort to end its age-old row over the possession of the BNS with the Bangladesh Football Federation, who wanted it exclusively for soccer from January next year.
Besides, the Board also seemed reluctant to carry on its sharing policy of country's second Test venue in Chittagong's MA Aziz Stadium.
"We are facing the same problem at the MA Aziz Stadium where cricket, football and even hockey is being played. The multipurpose use seriously hampers our preparation of wickets. I think with the Divisional Stadium ready Test matches can be played there if necessary," said Rafiqul.
Among the three venues Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra has been described as the next best place after the Basin Reserve in New Zealand. Shaped in modern design, 12,000 capacity stadium boasts an attractive members' stand and a decent-sized press box. Another important factor in its favour is the enormous crowd appeal that was generated during its inaugural match between Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka in the juvenile meet.
Khulna Divisional Stadium is a picturesque ground and the region is popular among tourists since it is the home of the Royal Bengal Tiger and of course the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world.
Source:
Daily Star