Dhaka: Bangladesh A will kick off their Top End T20 series mission tomorrow by taking on Pakistan A at Darwin, Australia. The tournament also features the Nepal national team alongside four top franchises of Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL).
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Bangladesh side makes a return to the event after their first appearance in 2024 when they played as the High Performance (HP) team, eventually becoming runners-up after being beaten by the Big Bash team Adelaide Strikers in the final. Speaking at a press conference ahead of leaving the country, Bangladesh A captain Nurul Hasan Sohan expressed determination to clinch the title that eluded them last season. “The goal is simple: to win the trophy,” Sohan stated. “It’s the goal of everyone… from the players to the team management. We believe we should win the trophy.”
Bangladesh made a promising start to the tour by winning a warm-up game against DIXI by 37 runs. After facing off against Pakistan A, the second string Bangladesh side will play against the Nepal national team on August 16, Big Bash franchise Perth Scorchers on August 17, Northern Territory Strike on August 19, Melbourne Stars on August 21, and Adelaide Strikers on August 23. Both the semifinals and final will be held on August 24.
In addition to the T20 matches, Bangladesh A will play a four-day match in Darwin from August 28-31 against South Australia, keeping the next year’s Test series in mind. The Test series will be Bangladesh’s first on Australian soil in two decades.
Squad: Nurul Hasan Sohan (Captain), Mohammed Saif Hasan, Mohammad Naim Sheikh, Jishan Alam, Mahidul Islam Ankon, Yasir Ali Chowdhury, Afif Hossain Dhrubo, Tufayel Ahmed, Mohammad Mrittunjoy Chowdhury, Rakibul Hasan, Mahfuzur Rahman Rabbi, Naeem Hasan, Musfik Hasan, Ripon Mondol, and Hasan Mahmud.