International cricket returns to Bogra after 16 years

International cricket is set to return to Bogra after almost 16 years when Bangladesh Under-19 team will play two youth ODIs against their Afghanistan counterpart.

Afghanistan youth team is scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh on October 20 to play a five-match youth ODI series, which is seen as the preparation platform for both sides for the upcoming Under-19 World Cup.

Bogra Shaheed Chandu Stadium will host the first two matches while the remaining three matches will take place in Rajshahi. 

After arriving in Bangladesh, Afghanistan will travel to Bogra on the same day. The first two ODIs will be played in Bogra on October 28 and 31.

The last international match was held in Bogra on November 20, 2009 when Bangladesh U-19 team, formed with Anamul Haque Bijoy, Mominul Haque and Sabbir Rahman, played against the Zimbabwe U-19 team.

However, the last time a foreign team played in Bogra was in 2010. In May of that year, the BCB Academy and Cricket South Africa (CSA) Academy teams faced each other in two 50-over matches at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium.

The last three ODIs of Bangladesh youth against Afghanistan U-19 team will be held on November 3, 6 and 9 at Rajshahi Divisional Stadium. The Afghan youth are scheduled to leave Bangladesh on November 10 after the series.

This is the fifth time that the Afghanistan U-19 team is visiting Bangladesh.  They first came to play the Youth World Cup in 2016. They played the Youth Asia Cup in 2018 and also came to play bilateral series in 2017 and 2021.

The Bangladesh U-19 team is currently practising in Rajshahi to prepare for the series.

1st Youth ODI on October 28, Tuesday, Bogra

2nd Youth ODI on October 31, Friday, Bogra

3rd Youth ODI on November 3, Monday, Rajshahi

4th Youth ODI on November 6, Thursday, Rajshahi

5th Youth ODI on November 9, Sunday, Rajshahi

NSA