5 Tests inside 50 days: Packed schedule throws unique challenge at Tigers

BCB chief selector Habibul Bashar recently told The Daily Star that “Tests will be prioritised.” That commitment will face a stern test as Bangladesh prepare to play five Tests, four of them in the current World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, within 50 days.

The congested period begins in late September, with the Tigers also scheduled to play T20s and ODIs in Japan and the UAE before travelling to South Africa in December. It will be one of the busiest stretches in Bangladesh’s recent cricket calendar.

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“This is a situation that has arisen for the first time in four years. Previously, we have seen it with ODIs and T20Is, but in Tests we haven’t faced it,” BCB cricket operations chief Shahriar Nafees told The Daily Star.

Bangladesh will begin their Asian Games campaign (T20) in Japan in late September, with five Test regulars included in the squad. If they reach the T20 final, they will have only five days before the one-off Test against Afghanistan in the UAE on October 9.

The schedule gets tighter afterwards. If Bangladesh reach the final of the tri-nation ODI tournament in the UAE, they will have only four days before the first Test against West Indies at home. Rotation will therefore be crucial to keep players fresh, particularly with the WTC Tests against West Indies and South Africa carrying greater importance.

The most difficult stretch comes between the second Test against West Indies in Sylhet and the first Test against South Africa in Johannesburg, with only five days between the matches. Travelling, recovery and adapting to different conditions will leave little time for preparation.

“The challenge is that if you get adequate time for Tests, like seven to 10 days, it is ideal for preparation. You will see that South Africa will have a packed schedule too. Given their assignments and our own assignments, things became a little packed,” Nafees admitted.

The BCB is already considering ways to manage the workload. Team management sources said players expected to feature in the South Africa Tests but not in the second Test against West Indies could be sent to South Africa early, accompanied by a member of the coaching staff.

The WTC Tests will remain the priority despite Bangladesh’s white-ball commitments against Afghanistan and Zimbabwe in the UAE and South Africa in December. Rotation is expected to be used extensively in the limited-overs matches to preserve the core Test players.

Hasan Mahmud, currently in England, will return on September 20 to join the Asian Games squad, while Khaled Ahmed has been given a county no-objection certificate until September 27.

Managing the workload of the six fast bowlers in the Test set-up will be particularly important. With four WTC Tests to play before December, Bangladesh’s ability to rotate their resources without weakening the side could prove decisive.