Bangladesh to play India in inaugural Test match

The president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India AC Muthiah confirmed in New Delhi on Friday that India has accepted Bangladesh's invitation to play its inaugural Test match in November. "It's an honour to take part in a historic moment for Bangladesh's cricket," he said. India has already been the maiden Test opponents of two other nations, Pakistan (1952-53) and Zimbabwe (1992-93), winning the first and drawing the second. AFP quoted Muthiah as saying the dates for the one-off Test at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka would be finalised shortly. But Muthiah suggested it would take place in the first week of November, just before Zimbabwe arrive on a three Test tour of India.

Both India and Bangladesh are taking part in the nine nation ICC Knock-Out Trophy in Nairobi from October 3-16. India then travel to Sharjah for the Champions Trophy (along with Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe) from October 20-29. For their part, Bangladesh will play two four-day and three one-day matches against provincial sides in South Africa after the ICC Knock-Out. Zimbabwe is arriving in India on November 5 with the first Test at New Delhi scheduled for November 18. So the first week of November is probably ideal for such an assignment. India have however declined Bangladesh's offer to take part in a triangular one-day series right after the inaugural Test.

Bangladesh was granted Test status by the ICC on June 26 this year in London. England had been the first choice invitee for the historic occasion. ``Since England is the oldest Test playing nation and Bangladesh the youngest one, the BCB initially invited England to play the first Test,'' said Saber Hossain Chowdhury, chairman of the Bangladesh Cricket Board. England, which is touring Pakistan from October to December, were keen to make the trip at the end of their tour to Pakistan but Bangladesh did not want the occasion to coincide with the holy month of Ramadan.