Originally, a three-Test tour was scheduled to take place in July and August 2020,[3][4] but it was postponed to October 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5][6] In September 2020, the tour was postponed again, after both boards could not agree on the quarantine requirements for the series.[7][8] In December 2020, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) were considering touring Sri Lanka in April 2021 to play two Test matches.[9] In February 2021, the BCB confirmed that the tour of Sri Lanka would take place in April.[10] On 19 March 2021, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced the dates for the tour.[11]
The first Test match finished as a high-scoring draw,[12] after rain wiped out the final session on the fifth day.[13] Sri Lanka won the second Test by 209 runs to win the series 1–0.[14]
Background
In May 2020, Nizamuddin Chowdhury, CEO of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), confirmed that they were in discussions with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) with regards to playing the series.[15]Nazmul Hasan, President of the BCB, suggested that their priorities are ICC events, and will wait to see what the ICC and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) does first.[16] However, on 24 June 2020, the tour was postponed due to the pandemic.[17] In July 2020, both cricket boards were looking at the possibility of rescheduling the tour for October 2020.[6] Also in July 2020, the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed it was their priority to reschedule the matches, along with the five other World Test Championship series that had been postponed due to the pandemic.[18]
In August 2020, both cricket boards were looking to play a combination of Test matches and Twenty20 International (T20I) matches, with a possible start date in October 2020.[19] On 12 August 2020, the BCB confirmed they would travel to Sri Lanka, leaving for the country on 23 September 2020.[20] On 12 September 2020, Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed that the Bangladesh team would need to quarantine for one week on arrival in the country before they can begin to train.[21] The following day, Sri Lanka Cricket increased the quarantine period to 14 days,[22] with the BCB disagreeing to the length of time their players would be quarantine and the lack of preparation time ahead of the first Test match.[23] In response, Sri Lanka Cricket suggested that the quarantine could be split into two phases, with seven days done in Bangladesh, and the remaining seven days done once the team arrives in Sri Lanka.[24]
On 19 September 2020, Bangladesh named a preliminary squad of 27 players to begin training ahead of the tour.[25] However, the following day, one player had to isolate after showing COVID-19 symptoms, along with anyone who came into close contact with him.[26] On 28 September 2020, the tour was postponed again as both boards could not decide on quarantine requirements for the series. SLC insisted on a 14-day quarantine following guidelines from the Sri Lanka government, while the BCB insisted on a shorter length.[7]
In December 2020, the BCB began talks with Sri Lanka Cricket tour play a short tour in April 2021.[27] Instead of the original three Tests that were scheduled to be played, the revised tour would have two Test matches, with the possibility of some white-ball matches as well.[28] In February 2021, the BCB allowed Shakib Al Hasan to miss the tour, allowing him to take part in the 2021 Indian Premier League,[29] with the BCB confirming that the tour will take place in April.[30] The following month, the BCB announced that the 2020–21 National Cricket League (NCL) tournament would be used as preparation for the Test matches.[31] However, after only two rounds of matches, the NCL was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[32] Despite the curtailment of the tournament, the BCB were still hopeful of touring Sri Lanka.[33] On 12 April 2021, the Bangladesh cricket team arrived in Sri Lanka.[34]
On 9 April 2021, the BCB announced a 21-man preliminary squad for the two Test matches.[37][38] The final 15-man squad for the Test series was confirmed following the two-day inter-squad warm-up match.[39] Sri Lanka also named a preliminary squad,[40] with bowler Dushmantha Chameera opting out of the tour due to taking paternity leave.[41]Lahiru Kumara suffered an injury during the third day of the first Test, and was ruled out of Sri Lanka's squad for the remainder of the series.[42] On 26 April 2021, Lakshan Sandakan and Chamika Karunaratne were named as replacements for Lahiru Kumara and Dilshan Madushanka in Sri Lanaka's squad.[43]
