Bangladesh to start 2022 with Test vs NZ

Bangladesh will start 2022 with a two-match Test series against New Zealand as the first match of the series will be played on January 1 of next year.

New Zealand Cricket announced the schedule for Bangladesh’s upcoming tour of New Zealand on their website on Friday. Both matches are part of the World Test Championship.

The first Test will start on January 1, 2022, at the Bay Oval in Tauranga, with the second Test starting on January 9 at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

This will be Bangladesh’s second Test series in the 2021-23 World Test Championship cycle, with the first being against Pakistan at home later this month.

The schedule does not include a Twenty20 internationals series between the sides, but ICC’s ‘Future Tour Programme’ mentions a three-match T20I series between the sides at the start of next year.

Chief Executive Officer of Bangladesh Cricket Board, Nizamuddin Chowdhury, told the media that it might be a mistake that the T20Is were included in the FTP.

“We have no idea about this (T20I series). Maybe it’s a mistake,” he told the media.

According to reports, there were no discussions about a T20I series between BCB and NZC. Rather, NZC had proposed a three-match Test series, but BCB rejected the offer as the dates would clash with the upcoming season of the Bangladesh Premier League.