BCB CEO: SLC says Bangladesh need one week quarantine in Sri Lanka

SLC has told the BCB that the Bangladesh contingent will have to be quarantined for a week on reaching Sri Lanka, before they can step out of their hotel to train, according to BCB chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury.

Initially there had been reports of the team perhaps not having to quarantine at all, and so travelling to Colombo on September 27 and hitting the nets the next day for the Test series that is scheduled to begin on October 23. Now, with the seven-day quarantine plan, the tour schedule could change to meet the directives of the local health authorities, which the BCB is happy to adhere to.

Earlier the Dhaka-based newspaper Prothom Alo had reported that the BCB would be paying for the first 17 days of the tour, when the Bangladesh Test team will play against a BCB High Performance side in two three-day matches, and then SLC will take over expenses from October 14, nine days before the Test series. Again, these details are subject to change given the latest quarantine requirements.

Chowdhury, addressing the press in Dhaka on Saturday, said plans were still being firmed up. He said SLC has been working on keeping the number of quarantine days to a minimum.

“In our last communication with them, SLC told us that we have to be in quarantine for the first seven days after arrival, after which the players can go ahead with the training schedule,” he said. “We believe that if it remains seven days quarantine, we can proceed according to our plans. [But] I think we should wait for feedback from SLC before making any further comment.

“Some of our foreign coaches are planning to join the team directly in Colombo, so we have to know what the protocol is for them, and for those who will travel with the team. SLC will inform us about the official order from the relevant ministry. We spoke to them yesterday. We expect to hear from them in the next two or three days.

“SLC has informed us that they are in touch with their health ministry, and discussed specific quarantine requirements. SLC is trying to reduce it as much as possible, but it is a global pandemic.

“There have been different regulations in Sri Lanka. SLC has informed us that through discussion with their health authorities, they are trying to make it as tolerable as possible for our players when they will be touring the country.”

With the BCB sending across two teams – the Test side and the High Performance team – it could mean up to 60 persons travelling to Sri Lanka together later this month. The High Performance side was also supposed to be touring Sri Lanka earlier this year, separate from the national team. The BCB plans to use the High Performance team to help with the Test side’s preparations in Sri Lanka, apart from plans to hold a short training camp in Dhaka before the teams leave.

“We will keep preparing for the tour,” Chowdhury said. “We are working on our travel, booking and training schedule in Dhaka. We want our team to be fully prepared, so we are preparing accordingly.”