Bangladesh Women’s Cricket Team to Tour Zimbabwe for ODIs in November
Bangladesh is set to play a three-match ODI series against hosts Zimbabwe in November. Before the two sides entered the biobubble for the 10-team Women’s ODI World Cup Qualifier to be played in the African nation. The bilateral series will be Bangladesh’s first international series since the T20 World Cup in Australia in February-March last year.
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and Zimbabwe Cricket Have Spoken About the Series :
Shafiul Alam Chowdhury Nadel, Head of BCB Women’s Cricket, said that “Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and Zimbabwe Cricket have discussed this series. And it has been decided that our women’s team will play against Zimbabwe before the World Cup Qualifier. Will play three ODIs.” Wing said. “We have stayed only for the ODIs for the bilateral series. Because the qualifiers are in the one-day format. And it will serve as an important starting exercise for our team in terms of getting match time before the qualifiers.”
Since the 2020 T20 World Cup, where Bangladesh were eliminated in the league stage. The players had participated in the only top-flight competitive cricket. When the emerging side from South Africa toured Sylhet for a five-match ODI series. . The fifth match, however, was canceled following a Covid-19-induced lockdown in Bangladesh “to accommodate the return home prior to the suspension of international flight operations”. A BCB release at that time said.
Nadel Said that we Have Been Trying to Organize a Tour for Bangladesh Women for a Long Time :
Asked about Bangladesh’s prolonged stay away from international cricket, which currently stands at 18 months. Nadel said: “We’ve been trying to organize a tour for Bangladesh women for a long time. But we didn’t plan to. The coronavirus pandemic was one of the reasons, but we’ve been stymied by issues related to the sport and socio-cultural perceptions that exist in the subcontinent. Odds faced – I won’t name the countries, but we didn’t agree to tour with some of them for this reason.
“Unfortunately, barriers exist around women’s sports related to current gender inequality. Even as we continue to work to eradicate them. The investment required to build a biobubble is significant for a women’s team. Sponsors and investors expect a profit from each series they invest in. And against that background, that doesn’t seem possible anymore (with the women’s side). So the matches against Zimbabwe are what we look at last. able to give.”
Along with Bangladesh, Who Last Played an ODI Series in November 2019 Expected to Depart for Zimbabwe on November 4 or 5 :
The qualifying event, twice delayed due to the pandemic, runs from 21 November to 5 December. Along with Bangladesh, which last played an ODI series in November 2019. She was expected to depart for Zimbabwe on 4 or 5 November. Visiting coaching staff, Nadel said, would only include local personnel. Given that BCB is yet to find a suitable candidate for the role of head coach. A position that has been lying vacant since the exit of former India captain Anju Jain following the end of his contract in June 2020.
BCB had formally invited applications for the head coach job in May. The deadline for which was June 10. However understands the pandemic-enforced last-minute withdrawals by high-profile foreign candidates. Both sides of the publication of the job advertisement derailed the BCB’s plan to fill the post. Mark Robinson, who coached England to the 2017 Women’s World Cup title at home, was one of them.
BCB Focused on Appointing a Foreign National as Head Coach :
Nadel said the Bangladesh Cricket Board is focused on appointing a foreign national as the head coach. As “has been the tradition in recent times.” But even if the board shortlists applicants before the Zimbabwe tour. He made it clear that the appointment would be made. Only after the qualifiers.
“We have a number of eminent coaches in the national pool who work with women cricketers. And we have seen interest from foreign coaches as well. Some of our last national head coaches for the women’s team have been from overseas,” Nadel said. “Our team is still relatively inexperienced on the international stage. So wanted to take advantage of the services of coaches with strong international experience. Because we want our women’s team to be mentally strong. That’s why we look for an overseas coach. are doing.
That said, we do not want to coach from abroad for the Zimbabwe series or the World Cup qualifiers. Because we don’t think 15 days or a month will be enough time for the coach to know the players, assess their strength. and weaknesses, or prepare them accordingly,” he said. “Therefore, we want to use our local coaches for these assignments.”
BCB Recently Organized a Skill and Fitness Camp for 60 Women Cricketers at the BKSP Ground in Savar.
To prepare for the Zimbabwe tour, Bangladesh Cricket Board recently organized a skill and fitness camp for 60 women cricketers at the BKSP Ground in Savar. In which 22 centrally contracted players of the board involved. The camp began on 14 August, ran in two phases, and ended with a four-team, 50-over tournament.
Also Read: Dhaka Premier League to Return to Traditional 50-Over Tournament