B.Mirror Desk: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have expressed satisfaction with the ground and facilities at Anvir Cricket Stadium in Anvir Bashundhara Group (ABG) Sports City ahead of Bangladesh’s warm-up match against the West Indies, scheduled for 22-24 October.
A six-member BCB inspection team visited the venue on Monday, accompanied by ABG Sports City director Imrul Hasan and senior general manager (administration) Lt Col Shoeb Shafiq, to assess preparations for the match.
“We are absolutely satisfied,” said Syed Abdul Baten, BCB’s national manager for grounds.
He said the inspection covered the wickets, outfield, dressing rooms, medical facilities, logistics, seating arrangements for journalists and broadcast facilities. The visit was primarily aimed at fine-tuning the arrangements, he added.
“First of all, we would like to thank ABG Sports City. The facilities here are fantastic. Everyone has been cooperative and supportive, and we have been working together for the last couple of years,” Baten said.
He described the warm-up match as a test case for staging international cricket at an alternative venue, noting that the ground already had most of the facilities required to host a team and stage a match.
The BCB have previously hosted Dhaka Premier League and various age-group matches at the venue. Baten said the board hoped their collaboration with ABG Sports City would continue, adding that another ground was under development at the complex and that the existing practice facilities could also be utilised.
For ABG Sports City, hosting the West Indies warm-up match is a matter of pride, according to director Imrul Hasan.
“It is certainly a matter of pride for Anvir Cricket Stadium. We showed the BCB team our facilities, from the ground and dressing rooms to the journalists’ room and medical room. We discussed in detail how to ensure the match is held smoothly, without any shortcomings,” Imrul said.
He added that the BCB had provided guidance and prompt assistance as ABG Sports City prepared to host the match.
The full West Indies squad have arrived in Dhaka. The first Test will begin in Dhaka on 28 October, with the second scheduled to start in Sylhet on 5 November.