DHAKA: Bangladesh will host Australia for two Tests in October in the first series between the two countries in nine years, the Bangladesh Cricket Board said on Sunday.

The Aussies will arrive on Sept 28 to play a three-day warm-up match against the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s XI at Fatullah outside the capital.

Bangladesh will host Australia in the coastal city of Chittagong for the first Test from Oct 9 to 13 before playing the second in Dhaka from Oct 17 to 21.

The series will be the first between the nations since Australia’s 2-0 victory during their tour in 2006.

Australia will be the fourth team to visit the cricketing minnows this year after Pakistan, India and South Africa.

World champions Australia visited Bangladesh in 2011 to play three One-day Internationals, although none were scheduled for this tour.

Australia won both matches the last time they played Bangladesh in 2006 and this year’s series will be only the third between the two nations.

Bangladesh have made great strides in the one-day game but are still considered minnows in the longer format, ranked ninth out of 10 test playing nations.

They reached the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time this year and since then have won ODI series at home against Pakistan, India and South Africa.

They also managed to draw a weather-hit single Test against India and are on the verge of drawing a two-Test series against world’s top-ranked Test side South Africa after rain washed away a majority of the two matches.

Schedule:

Oct 3-5: vs Bangladesh Cricket Board’s XI (Fatullah).

Oct 9-13: First Test (Chittagong).

Oct 17-21: Second Test (Dhaka).

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2015

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