McMillan unable to take up BD's batting consultant role

Former New Zealand batsman Craig McMillan, who had been appointed Bangladesh batting consultant for the Tour of Sri Lanka 2020, has informed the BCB that he is unable to join the Bangladesh team due to a loss in the family, report agencies.

BCB CEO Nizam Uddin Chowdhury on Saturday said: "Craig has communicated to us that his father has passed away recently and therefore it would not be possible for him to take up the batting consultant's position of the Bangladesh National Cricket Team for the upcoming tour to Sri Lanka at this moment.

"We fully understand his situation. Our sympathies are with Craig and his family during this difficult time, "he added.

Meanwhile, the ensuing tour of Bangladesh Cricket team to Sri Lanka to play a three-match Test Series, has become uncertain due to mandatory 14-day quarantine in the Island nation,, imposed by Sri Lankan Health authority.

McMillan was appointed in the role last month, having spent five years as New Zealand's all-format batting coach. He was supposed to replace Neil McKenzie, who had worked with Bangladesh for two years in the same capacity before deciding against travelling during the pandemic.

If the Sri Lanka tour does go ahead, it would leave the BCB with very little time to replace McMillan ahead of their preparatory camp, which is likely to be split between Dhaka and Colombo in the coming weeks.

The fate of the tour is hanging in the balance as the BCB is yet to get any response from their Sri Lankan counterparts after former's rejection of the mandatory 14-day quarantine.

Bangladesh's tour of Sri Lanka, which was scheduled for July-August, was postponed because of the Covid-19 pandemic. They're now expected to travel to Sri Lanka on September 27, with the first of the three Tests beginning on October 23.