Bangladesh Cricket Faces Travel Woes at U19 World Cup

Bangladesh's journey in the ongoing Under-19 World Cup has concluded, marked by significant controversy. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has voiced strong criticism against the International Cricket Council (ICC), citing unfair match scheduling and inadequate travel arrangements. These issues are believed to have negatively impacted the team's performance throughout the tournament.

Concerns were raised by BCB game development coordinator Habibul Bashar, who highlighted the strenuous travel schedule. The team reportedly faced a nearly nine-hour bus journey from Harare to Bulawayo during the monsoon season before their opening match. To alleviate player fatigue, especially before key games against India and New Zealand, the BCB intervened, using its own funds to arrange internal flights.

Despite these efforts, the travel demands persisted. The team had to undertake another bus journey back to Harare for a match against the USA on January 23, followed by another trip to Bulawayo for a Super Six game against England. Bashar stated that the ICC's initial schedule, which involved extensive back-and-forth travel for warm-up matches and group stage games, was unfair. The BCB's prior requests to adjust the schedule to minimize travel were reportedly ignored by the ICC.