DHAKA, May 22: Bangladesh's tour of Zimbabwe will take place in late July after Zimbabwe Cricket finally confirmed dates with Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). The five-ODI series will start with a match at Bulawayo on July 29 and conclude eight days later at Harare.

Confirmation of series had been delayed after Zimbabwe board had asked for matches to take place in September, but BCB was adamant that original timeline as specified by ICC in its Future Tours Program should be adhered to.

Local reports indicate that BCB is unhappy with packed itinerary which sees five matches take place in eight days. BCB will continue to press for more rest time to be included between games.

What is also unclear is situation regarding Zimbabwe players who are contracted to play club cricket in England. At least eight of side which toured the Caribbean are believed to be in that position, and given that they arrived a month into English season anyway, clubs may be loathed to release them.

That could account for Zimbabwe's eagerness to play series in September, as by then all those players will have finished in England.

Draft itinerary:

July 29: First ODI (Bulawayo).

July 30: Second ODI (Bulawayo).

Aug 2: Third ODI (Harare).

Aug 4: Fourth ODI (Harare).

Aug 5: Fifth ODI (Harare).—Agencies