BCB changes match timings to support energy saving initiative

The Bangladesh Cricket Board are set to revise the timings of their upcoming international matches, due to the energy-saving initiatives.

The Bangladesh Men’s team are to host New Zealand in a white-ball series, while the women are to host Sri Lanka in a T20I series.

Originally slated to start at 2:00 pm BST (Bangladesh Standard Time), the Men’s ODIs will be pushed forward by three hours, now set to start at 11:00 am, to ensure the match ends by sunset, which is 6:30 pm. The Men’s T20Is are set to start at 2:00 pm, likely to end by 5:30 pm. The women’s T20Is, slated to start at 6:00 pm, will now start at 1:30 pm.

"The board has decided to readjust the match timings of the forthcoming Bangladesh vs New Zealand ODI and T20I series to support the energy saving initiative of the Bangladesh Government. The revised timing ... will aim to make maximum use of daylight in the day-night games," the BCB said in a statement, as reported by Cricbuzz.

This decision comes on the back of wider energy-saving measures in the country, due to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. Office hours and shopping timings have been cut down, with the measures being put in place to reduce the country’s energy consumption.

New Zealand are set to arrive in Bangladesh on April 13, with the three-match ODI series set to start on April 17. The first two ODIs are to be played at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on April 17 and 20, after which the teams will head to Chattogram for the third ODI on April 23.

The teams will stay in Chattogram to play the first two T20Is, on the April 27 and 29, before returning to Dhaka for the final T20I on May 2. Meanwhile, the women's team will host Sri Lanka in a three-match series in Sylhet, with games to be played on April 28, 30, and May 2.