Bangladesh to tour
Zimbabwe, New Zealand

Bangladesh will tour Zimbabwe and New Zealand next year as part of its plan to upgrade its performance as a Test-playing nation, the South Asian country's cricket chief said on Thursday.

"We will tour Zimbabwe in April and New Zealand in December next year to improve our team's performance and also as preparation for the World Cup in 2003," Saber Hossain Chowdhury, chief of the Bangladesh Cricket Control Board, said.

He said the board is also thinking of touring South Africa next year and the following year also, and Pakistan as well.

Chowhdury spoke as the Bangladeshi capital eagerly awaited for the five-day encounter between India and Bangladesh, beginning on Friday.

This will be Bangladesh's first Test match since becoming the 10th member of the exclusive Test club early this year.

The match is expected to be opened by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed at a colourful ceremony at Bangabandhu National Stadium, organisers said.

Mail Cricket Editor