SL to arrive at Bangladesh in May 16

The Sri Lankan cricket team will arrive in Bangladesh on May 16 to take part in a three-match ODI series, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) revealed as they announced the schedule for the upcoming home series. 

The visitors will quarantine in their rooms for three days before the start of training sessions from May 19 at the BCB Academy ground in Mirpur. The Sri Lankan team will take part in a practice game on May 21 at the BKSP before facing Bangladesh in the first ODI on May 23. The second and third games are scheduled for May 25 and 28 respectively, with all matches being held at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. Bangladesh's selectors have already announced a 23-members preliminary squad, which has started training at the home of cricket in Mirpur. The Tigers will be hosting their second international home series since the pandemic after playing hosts to the West Indies earlier this year during two-match Test and three-match ODI series. Meanwhile, with many foreign players having already left India following the Indian Premier League's suspension on Tuesday, the question among Bangladesh fans was when Mustafizur Rahman and Shakib Al Hasan would return.

Both cricketers were included in the 23-member preliminary squad and will likely return to the country on the same flight, with their respective franchises Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders expected to share the cost of chartered flights. While international flights resumed in Bangladesh on May 1, no passengers are allowed to fly in from India due to the escalation of the Covid-19 situation in the neighbouring country. However, a special charter flight may be arranged for Shakib and Fizz after getting special approval from relevant authorities. "We're hopeful that Shakib and Mustafizur will be back in the country tomorrow or the day after tomorrow," BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury told.