Nathan Lyon's 13 wickets in the Chattogram Test in 2017 and it helped Australia level the series against Bangladesh. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)
New Delhi:
The coronavirus pandemic continues to wreck havoc and stall sporting events all over the world. Cricket has been severely affected with England's tour of Sri Lanka postponed while Bangladesh's remaining Test against Pakistan has also been affected due to the coronavirus. Now, Australia's upcoming tour of Bangladesh in June has also been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The series included two Tests and three ODIs, with the two Tests played in Chattogram and Dhaka on June 11 and June 23 as part of the ICC World Test Championships. Both Cricket Australia and Bangladesh Cricket Board agreed to postpone the series and agreed to work upon a suitable date for resumption.
With Australia now having over 6000 positive cases and a travel ban imposed indefinitely, their participation in the 2020 Indian Premier League is also in doubt. Bangladesh have 330 coronavirus positive cases but all sporting activity in the country is undr lockdown. This is the second time that Australia's tour of Bangladesh has been postponed.
Since their 2017 series which ended in a 1-1 draw, Australia cancelled hosting Bangladesh because Australian free-to-air broadcasters were uninterested in televising the series in the middle of the football season and they did not find it "commercially viable". Bangladesh Cricket Board CEO Nizam Uddin Chowdhury said Cricket Australia and BCB were in agreement to postpone the series due to the global coronavirus emergency. "We hope that the situation will improve soon and we are able to hold this series at a convenient time in the near future. To that end, the BCB will continue to work closely with CA with whom we share a history of support and cooperation," Chowdhury said.
Cricket Australia chief Kevin Roberts said he appreciated the Bangladesh Cricket Board for the open, honest and responsible discussions that led to a mutually-agreed decision to postpone the series.
David Warner hit two centuries in the series against Bangladesh in 2017 which ended in a 1-1 draw. (Image credit: Getty Images)
"The health of our people and communities is the number one priority for both Boards and that is reflected in the action we have taken in postponing the two Test matches. As we know, the global cricket calendar is very busy but we will do everything we can to honour our commitment to Bangladesh and will continue to work with the BCB on an agreed date," Roberts said.
Also Read | Australia vs New Zealand ODI And T20I Series Postponed Due To Coronavirus Pandemic
In the 2017 series in Bangladesh, the hosts secured a historic win against Australia when they won the Mirpur Test by 20 runs thanks to a 10-wicket haul by Shakib Al Hasan. However, in the second Test in Chattogram, Nathan Lyon took 13 wickets and David Warner hit his second consecutive century as Australia squared the series in style.
