Readers’ Forum

Arrange ODIs too

Team Australia are coming to our country in October to play one three-day preparatory and two Test matches. Surely this will give our players an opportunity to test their Test skills, perseverance, concentration and stamina, which they missed against South Africa because of inclement weather.
But the country’s cricket fans wanted to be thrilled by our players’ zeal and spirit against the World Champions Australia in the one-day internationals (ODI), which are not on the calendar for mysterious reason.
One of my friends said to me, “Can the two countries’ cricket governing bodies change the tour index? Can they eschew one Test match for the sake of two ODS?
I said: Since the International Cricket Council has recently amended the rule and delegated the authority to the cricket playing nations about the bilateral tour programme, both Australia and Bangladesh can revise the tour index and that will be a welcome decision.
He said, “ODI gives both revenue and football like romance and thrill. Crowds become excited as well as pensive. They wait till the last ball is played. So, it is not comprehendible that Aussies will not play ODI against Bangladesh, who defeated Pakistan, India and South Africa in three bilateral ODI series one after another this year
I said: It may be that Australia by opting out from the ODI series has avoided the risk of defeat. However, I wish success of the Test series and triumph of Bangladesh cricket team. We welcome Australia

Peter Rozario
Dhaka