Australia refuse to play practice match at BKSP after Fatullah stadium getting waterlogged

The Australian cricket team has refused to play in an alternate venue for their practice match which was initially scheduled to be played at Fatullah. Australia land on the turfs of Bangladesh on the 18th of August to play a couple of Test matches starting on the 27th of August.

The ground at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Outer Stadium, Fatullah saw heavy water-logging due to torrential rains in the area. Fatullah was supposed to host a two-day practice match ahead of the First Test match at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka. Due to persistent rainfall in the last few weeks, dirty waters have seeped in and clogged in the inside and outside of the stadium.

The Australian cricket team alternatively had the option of playing at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (BKSP), which is about 28 km north-west of the capital, Dhaka. However, Australia cited out distance as the factor to opt out of the match.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Nazmul Hasan Papon has also availed the Sylhet Stadium and the other two stadiums in Dhaka, apart from pondering over shorter ways to the stadium. “Now we are thinking about any shorter ways to reach there. We have informed them about Sylhet stadium and other two grounds in Dhaka,” claimed Nazmul Hasan according to BDCrictime.com.

Bhuiyan optimistic about the match at Fatullah

“We are really worried about the venue of the preparation match. We were ready with BKSP ground to arrange the match but Australian team management repeatedly saying they are not willing to travel an hour to go to BKSP for the practice match.” further added the BCB President.

However, BCB Director and Grounds Committee Chairman Hanif Bhuiyan seemed optimistic about the chances of Fatullah hosting the two day match. “We have not yet cancelled the Fatullah venue. We have started to drain the water from in and outside Fatullah Stadium. We will try our level best to arrange the practice match over there,” said Hanif Bhuiyan.