Bangladesh cricket tour of New Zealand delayed by one week

New Zealand Cricket has reshuffled the schedules for the Bangladesh (men) and Australia (women) tours in March, including a bonus for fans of Twenty20 double-headers.

Bangladesh’s tour will now be delayed a week, NZC confirmed in a statement, due to “ongoing challenges in the current Covid-19 environment and the need to allow visiting sides adequate preparation for international commitments”.

It is Bangladesh’s first visit to New Zealand since their 2019 tour was cut short following the mosque attacks, which players narrowly avoided the day before the scheduled third test at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval.

The tour opener will now be a one-day international at Dunedin’s University Oval on Saturday, March 20, after Bangladesh complete a five-day training camp in Queenstown.

The same venues will host the six men’s matches as previously advertised, but on different dates. It also means three more Twenty20 double-headers, with the White Ferns facing Australia and the Black Caps playing Bangladesh at Hamilton, Napier and Auckland.

Eden Park will host the Bangladesh tour finale on April 1, before the White Ferns play three ODIs against Australia at Mt Maunganui.

Patrons who have already purchased tickets for games on which dates or venues have been changed have been notified of the amendments and their options, including full refunds if desired.

Both touring sides will need to complete 14 days of managed isolation on arrival in New Zealand.