U-19 Tigers’ Oman tour postponed over visa delay

The Bangladesh Under-19 team’s scheduled departure for Oman has been postponed due to delays in visa issuance, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced in a media release on Saturday. The junior Tigers were originally due to travel for a five-match Youth ODI series against Afghanistan, with matches scheduled for October 13, 15, 18, 20 and 23 at the Oman Cricket Academy Ground.

According to the BCB, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), which is hosting the series, has informed its Bangladeshi counterpart that it is awaiting the necessary approval from the Omani authorities. The visa process, initiated in early September, is being coordinated through the ACB, with the issuance of visas beyond the BCB’s control.

Despite the setback, the BCB stated that the squad remained fully ready to depart and that necessary travel arrangements would be made as soon as the visas were issued. The board had announced a 15-member squad for the series on Thursday, with Farid Hasan Faysal named captain.

The team is also scheduled to travel to Oman next month for the ACC Under-19 Asia Cup, which begins on November 5. After completing the bilateral series against Afghanistan, the junior Tigers are expected to return home before heading back to Oman on November 2 for the continental tournament.