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Bangaldesh have declined an invitation from Cricket Ireland to play three ODI's and two T20's in August.

According to a report in the Bangladesh Daily Star, BCB’s cricket operations chairman Enayat Hossain Siraj played down the tour saying: “We don’t have enough players to start with. Teams will be going to England and Singapore."

This has to be one of the most ridiculous reasons to deny a tour. No players? Not even an A team? Pathetic decision by the BCB.

samedwards wrote:This has to be one of the most ridiculous reasons to deny a tour. No players? Not even an A team? Pathetic decision by the BCB.

Probably for much the same reason Zim seem reluctant to play Ireland - too much potential for the tour to be a banana skin. (Bangladesh would probably win, even in Ireland, but it would be a close series...)

maehara wrote:(Bangladesh would probably win, even in Ireland, but it would be a close series...)

I would put my money firmly on Ireland after watching the way they squeezed Pakistan. Add to that the away record of Bangladesh on seaming pitches, they have got no chance. Zim might fare better due to the European club cricket experience in the squad.

CrimsonAvenger wrote:

maehara wrote:(Bangladesh would probably win, even in Ireland, but it would be a close series...)

I would put my money firmly on Ireland after watching the way they squeezed Pakistan. Add to that the away record of Bangladesh on seaming pitches, they have got no chance. Zim might fare better due to the European club cricket experience in the squad.

Bangladesh played a 2-match T20 series in Belfast last year - won one convincingly by Bangladesh, one rained off, IIRC. I'd take that as a better indicator of form than the Pakistan games (and Ireland not getting a win out of those two games was heartbreaking - they deserved to win them both).

Also depends a lot on how many of their county players Ireland are able to get released for a game. There're a lot of variables...

maehara wrote: Also depends a lot on how many of their county players Ireland are able to get released for a game. There're a lot of variables...

If its' an ODI or a T20 series, they will be able to get the players. Its written in their contracts. And just discovered that Ban A has a tour of England in August. Surely, they could have afforded a couple of games?

maehara wrote:Also depends a lot on how many of their county players Ireland are able to get released for a game. There're a lot of variables...

That is true, but the best available Ireland squad at home can be a handful for Bangladesh (on current form) and to some extent for Zim too. They need games, please ICC, do something...

samedwards wrote:If its' an ODI or a T20 series, they will be able to get the players. Its written in their contracts.

Counties have to release them if they're selected, yes. But there are plenty of mutterings that players are put under pressure not to make themselves available for selection ("You're a great player, but if you go to Ireland for that series and someone else steps up while you're gone, well, we won't be able to guarantee your place in the side...").

Well, that does happen unfortunately. Niall O' Brien has remarked how he was overlooked by counties, because of his stated preference of playing for Ireland. Recently, Boyd Rankin had to retire from the Irish colors to get a contract at Warwickshire.