Australia's only warm-up game called off due to waterlogging

The two-day practice match between the Australians and the BCB XI was called off after the Fatullah Cricket Stadium was deemed "not up to the mark" by the touring side. They will now continue using facilities at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur for their build-up to the first Test against Bangladesh.

Waterlogging at the Fatullah ground put the game in doubt months ago but the National Sporting Council, in charge of all stadiums in Bangladesh, didn't start preparation in time. The BCB had tried to use pumps to get the extra water off the ground.

BCB's media committee chairman Jalal Yunus said that had the NSC started work earlier, the ground would have been fit for play.

"They went to the Fatullah ground this morning and while they appreciated our effort, the ground wasn't deemed up to the mark," Yunus said. "Some parts of the outfield remained wet so they didn't want to play the practice match there. I think the removal of the water should have started earlier because this has been an exceptionally rainy summer. Waterlogging outside the ground also hampered the ground water to get stuck inside."

The Australia team management had earlier inspected two other grounds in Dhaka. They didn't want to play in BKSP, 30km from the team hotel, due to the travelling time, while the ULAB ground lacked adequate facilities.

"The BCB has been fantastic trying to get us the game.," Australia coach Darren Lehmann said. "The amount of rain hasn't helped. We looked at various facilities around Dhaka. We feel for the people of Bangladesh with the amount of rain they have had. There are a lot of people in this country struggling because of the rain so the thoughts are with them."

Australia had played an intra-squad warm-up game in Darwin prior to their departure. The first Test against Bangladesh begins on August 27 in Mirpur.