Much to the elation of fans, BCCI confirmed on August 3 that Bangladesh cricket team would be playing a Test match for the first time in India. The match is set to start on February 8, 2017, in Hyderabad.
It will be the first time that Bangladesh plays a full-length Test match in India. Till now, the neighbouring country has played three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and one Twenty20 match (during the ICC T20 World Cup) in India.
BCCI president Anurag Thakur made the historic announcement in a press conference. “As a leading Test-playing nation, it is BCCI's responsibility to give opportunity to every Test-playing nation. This will be a great addition to our home season 2016-17,” he said.
Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hassan said that their wait to play on Indian soil was finally over. He added, “For the cricketers who will be representing Bangladesh and India, this will be a much anticipated game and given the competitive nature of their limited overs matches in the recent past, I believe the clash between these two cricket-crazy nations will catch the imagination.”
Bangladesh has been playing Test matches since 2000, and has faced India eight times in whites. India won six of those matches, while the other two were drawn.
The head-to-head record in ODIs is heavily tilted in India's favour, with the Men in Blue winning 27 of the 32 matches played since 1998 between the two teams, most of which have taken place in Bangladesh.
