Bangladesh postpone Zimbabwe Test series to prepare for T20 events

Dhaka, Dec 21: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has decided to defer the Test series against Zimbabwe to prepare for next year's Asia Cup and World Twenty20.

Zimbabwe were scheduled to visit Bangladesh in January for a two-Test series, reports bdnews24.com.

The BCB had earlier curtailed the series, originally planned as a three-Test tour in September, for the same reason.

"We have two important T20 tournaments ahead of us — the Asia Cup and the World Cup. Preparing for them is more important," BCB president Nazmul Hassan said on Monday.

"Many Test players are not in the T20 team. So playing Tests during that time won't help them."

Bangladesh have no match scheduled for a while after the World T20. The board will try to organise the bilateral series sometime then, said the BCB chief.

Bangladesh have been placed with Ireland, the Netherlands and debutants Oman in Group A of the first round in the World T20 that will be played in India.

The winners of the two groups will join the top eight teams in the Super 10 stage.

Bangladesh will be grouped with India, Pakistan, Australia and New Zealand if they progress beyond the first round.