Australia cancels two-day warm-up game in Bangladesh due to poor ground conditions

Australia cancels two-day warm-up game in Bangladesh due to poor ground conditions

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Australian Cricket team has canceled their only warm-up match prior to the two-match Test series against Bangladesh since heavy rain partially flooded part of the field in Fatullah. Fatullah received incessant rainfall a week before the game, which has made a telling impact on the ground conditions.

It was the only warm-up fixture of the tour, Australia’s first to Bangladesh in more than a decade. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) offered alternative venues but the Australians were reluctant to change at the last-minute due to security concerns. They went to the Fatullah ground this morning and while they appreciated our effort, the ground wasn't deemed up to the mark. Some parts of the outfield remained wet so they didn't want to play the practice match there.

"I think the removal of the water should have started earlier because this has been an exceptionally rainy summer. Water-logging outside the ground also hampered the ground water to get stuck inside," BCB's media committee chairman Jalal Yunus said on Monday (August 21).

"We've decided to not do the tour game now which is a shame for both sides, the Bangladesh Cricket Board has been fantastic trying to get a game," Australia coach Darren Lehmann said on Monday. "The amount of rain they've had can't be helped.

"We looked at various facilities around Bangladesh, and Dhaka especially. We feel for the BCB and all the people of Bangladesh with how much rain they've had. It's a shame we're not playing but we've got great facilities here," Lehmann added.

"At the end of the day, we just can't play on the ground as such. We're ready to go, it's just now a case of fine-tuning our skills in the nets available and what we can get out of that (to be) ready for the first Test.

"Fingers crossed we can get the ground up here and play a great Test series against a quality side at home," Lehmann concluded.

Since in the selected venue, heavy rain had partially flooded part of the ground, other venues were offered, but the Australians didn’t want to change due to security concerns.

“The BCB has been fantastic trying to get us the game. The amount of rain hasn’t helped,” Australia coach Darren Lehman told the reporters.

“We looked at various facilities around Dhaka. We feel for the people of Bangladesh with the amount of rain they have had. There are a lot of people in this country struggling because of the rain. So the thoughts are with them,” he added. 

Bangladesh’s disaster agency confirmed that 115 people died in consequence of the heavy showers in the area last week and has left one-third of the country flooded. Since 2006, Australia has not toured Bangladesh and will play the series opener next Sunday at Dhaka’s Sher-e Bangla National Stadium. Australia’s tour in 2015 was also canceled at the last moment by reason of security fears subsequent to the attacks by Islamist extremists in Bangladesh. 

The Australians will be playing two Tests before leaving Bangladesh on September 9.

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