In a unanimous decision last month, the International Cricket Council (ICC) had suspended Zimbabwe Cricket for failing to fulfill their obligation of ensuring that there is no government interference in its administration. According to an official of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), Bangladesh is all set to host Zimbabwe for a tri-nations Twenty-20 tournament in September. The suspension of Zimbabwe Cricket by the cricket governing body had left the all the cricketers heartbroken.


"We have been informed by the concerned officials that there is no bar on Zimbabwe playing in bilateral matches. They are only suspended from ICC events. This is why we included them in the series," BCB spokesman Jalal Yunus told AFP.

A bilateral series between Bangladesh and Afghanistan was originally slated to take place before the officials decided to include Zimbabwe in the tournament and make it a tri-series after the strife-torn nation's request.

Afghanistan are the third team in the tournament, scheduled to be held from September 13 to 24. The tri-series will be preceded by Afghanistan's maiden Test match against Bangladesh in Chittagong from September 5 to 9.

Fixtures:

Aug 30: Afghanistan arrive in Bangladesh

Sept 1-2:  Two-day practice match between Afghanistan XI and BCB XI in Chittagong Sept 5-9: First and only Test between Bangladesh and Afghanistan in Chittagong Sept 8: Zimbabwe arrive in Bangladesh

Sept 11: T20 practice match between Zimbabwe XI and BCB XI in Fatullah

Sept 13: Bangladesh v Zimbabwe tri-nation T20I in Dhaka

Sept 14: Afghanistan v Zimbabwe tri-nation T20I in Dhaka

Sept 15: Bangladesh v Afghanistan tri-nation T20I in Dhaka

Sept 18: Bangladesh v Zimbabwe tri-nation T20I in Chittagong

Sept 20: Afghanistan v Zimbabwe tri-nation T20I in Chittagong

Sept 21: Bangladesh v Afghanistan tri-nation T20I in Chittagong

Sept 24: Final of tri-nation T20I in Dhaka