BCB Delegation Inspects Anvir Cricket Stadium, Expresses Satisfaction

Anvir Cricket Stadium at ABG Sports City has reached an important stage in assessing its capacity to host international cricket. Ahead of Bangladesh’s two-day warm-up match against the West Indies, a delegation from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) expressed satisfaction after inspecting the venue’s playing field, pitch, dressing rooms, medical services and media facilities.

The two-day warm-up match against the West Indies is scheduled to take place at Anvir Cricket Stadium on October 22 and 23. To ensure the event runs smoothly, officials from a six-member BCB delegation inspected the stadium’s overall preparations and infrastructure on Monday. The team also identified areas where minor changes or improvements may be required.

Led by Syed Abdul Baten, national manager of the BCB’s Grounds and Facilities Management Department, the delegation toured different sections of the stadium. Following the inspection, he praised the venue’s facilities and the cooperation extended by ABG Sports City.

Syed Abdul Baten said this was the first time the BCB had arranged a warm-up match at a privately owned venue. Thanking ABG Sports City for the initiative, he said, “This is an outstanding venue. We have been involved in organising sporting events for a long time. However, this is the first time the BCB is organising a warm-up match of this kind at an institution’s own venue.”

Expressing satisfaction with the stadium’s overall arrangements, he added, “The facilities here are outstanding. Everyone is cooperative and supportive. We inspected the pitch, outfield, dressing rooms, medical and logistical facilities, seating arrangements for journalists, and provisions for media coverage. We discussed the details and identified the areas where minor changes or improvements are needed.”

The relevant authorities view the hosting of an international team’s warm-up match at Anvir Cricket Stadium as an opportunity to assess its potential for organising cricket on a larger scale in the future. Another cricket ground is currently under construction at ABG Sports City, which also offers practice facilities. Plans are in place to expand the scope of cricket activities at the venue in the future.

In this regard, Syed Abdul Baten said, “This two-day warm-up match is a test case for us. Another ground is being developed in Bashundhara, and they also have good practice facilities.”

During the inspection, ABG Sports City Director Md. Imrul Hasan, ABG Senior General Manager Lieutenant Colonel Shoaib Shafik and other officials of the organisation were present.

Director Md. Imrul Hasan considers hosting the warm-up match against the West Indies a significant achievement for Anvir Cricket Stadium and ABG Sports City. He said, “A two-day match will be held against the West Indies. This is certainly a matter of pride for ABG Sports City and Anvir Cricket Stadium.”

Referring to the facilities shown to the BCB delegation, Md. Imrul Hasan said, “We showed them everything, from the ground and dressing rooms to the journalists’ room and medical room. The BCB is experienced in organising events of this kind, while we are completely new to it. That is why we are moving forward based on their guidance. From our discussions, I felt that they were fully satisfied.”

Anvir Cricket Stadium has previously hosted age-group cricket as well as various domestic matches. Recently, the venue also hosted a second XI match in the National Cricket League. Hosting Bangladesh’s warm-up match against the West Indies will now add a new experience to the venue’s operations: organising a match involving an international team.

Relevant stakeholders view the BCB delegation’s inspection and the upcoming warm-up match as an important opportunity to demonstrate Anvir Cricket Stadium’s infrastructure, management and capacity to host cricket events.