Bangla hopes to wet Test feet

Test rookies Bangladesh are hoping to play their first match in November, cricket supremo Saber Hossain Chowdhury said here Wednesday.

"We are trying to hold the maiden Test in November this year," he was quoted as saying by the official BSS news agency.

He said the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had been in contact with a number of Test playing countries, including neighbouring India, after England said it was unable to come at that time.

Chowdhury said England wanted to play in December after their Pakistan tour, but Bangladesh was unable to accomodate that because of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan.

He said Bangladesh would play two four-day matches and several one-day matches against provincial sides in South Africa after the International Cricket Conference knock-out tournament in Kenya in October.

Bangladesh became the newest member of the Test cricket club this year.

All rounder Naimur Rahman has been named Bangladesh's new captain for the Kenya tournament.

Rahman said soon after taking charge earlier this month: "I believe in attacking and aggressive aprroach. I want my team to play as attacking as possible with respect to our obvious limitations."

Meanwhile, Bangladesh's cricket coach Ediie Barlow is to return to Dhaka later this month to resume his responsibilities as BCB's director for development, Chowdhury said.

Barlow went home for medical treatment in May.

Mail Cricket Editor