Bangladesh tour of NZ pushed back by seven days due to Covid-19

Auckland, Feb 4 (IANS) Bangladesh's limited-overs tour of New Zealand, beginning with three ODIs, will now begin on March 20 instead of March 13, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) confirmed on Thursday.According to an official release from NZC, the T20I series -- originally scheduled to be played between March 23 and 28 -- will now be played as double headers alongside New Zealand women's T20I series against Australia between March 28 and April 1.The change in schedule was, as per the NZC statement, "caused by ongoing challenges in the current Covid-19 environment and the need to allow visiting sides adequate preparation for international commitments"."To accommodate the necessary logistics, the Bangladesh tour will now begin seven days later than initially scheduled, following a five-day training camp at Queenstown, with matches to be played at the venues first planned, but on different dates," said NZC.Revised scheduleNew Zealand vs Bangladesh ODIsMarch 20: 1st ODI, DunedinMarch 23: 2nd ODI, ChristchurchMarch 26: 3rd ODI, WellingtonNew Zealand vs Bangladesh T20IsMarch 28: 1st T20I, HamiltonMarch 30: 2nd T20I, NapierApril 1: 3rd T20I, AucklandNew Zealand women vs Australia women T20IsMarch 28: 1st T20I, HamiltonMarch 30: 2nd T20I, NapierApril 1: 3rd T20I, AucklandNew Zealand women vs Australia women ODIsApril 4: 1st ODI, TaurangaApril 7: 2nd ODI, TaurangaApril 10: 3rd ODI, Tauranga
--IANS aak/