Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) High Performance (HP) Unit chairman Naimur Rahman said on Wednesday that they are eyeing to have Test preparation for the two-match Test series against Australia in 2027 with the forthcoming HP tour in Darwin.

The HP Unit will depart for Australia on 13 July while their tour will begin with two four-day games against Pakistan Shaheen, considered to be the second-string cricket team of the nation. 

The first match will be held on 19-22 July and the second match on 26-29 July, both in Darwin that is slated to host the two-match Test series against Bangladesh in 2027.

Following the longer-version games HP Unit will play a 50-over tri-series involving Pakistan Shaheen and Northern Territory of Australia.

The HP Unit picked a couple of Test specialists like Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan and Shahadat Hossain among others in their squad to provide them with an opportunity to have some longer-version cricket under their belt in Australian conditions keeping in mind that they are likely to represent Bangladesh Test squad when they travel to Australia in 2027.

“Some of the players picked in the squad are playing for the national team and the game (two-match Test series) we have with Australia in 2027 will be in Darwin and they are preparing for it (with the forthcoming HP tour),” Naimur told reporters at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Wednesday.

“Many times we see our new players struggling to play for the first time in an unfamiliar environment and so this tour is not just a routine HP program rather it's a new inclusion and we have informed them that we intend to continue this series in the future,” he added.

“Our purpose is to create opportunities for the players. We hope that these players will serve the country well in their future endeavours,” he further added. 

Naimur informed former bowling coach Corey Collymore of West Indies will act as the head coach after they failed to rope in Nathan Hauritz of Australia as the latter decided not to join at the last minute citing personal reasons.  

Meanwhile, following the longer-version games HP Unit will play a 50-over tri-series involving Pakistan Shaheen and Northern Territory of Australia.

HP Unit will start the series against Northern Territory on 1 August and conclude against Shaheen on 6 August.

HP Unit will conclude their tour by taking part in the Northern Territory’s Top End T20 Series that will feature Pakistan’s Shaheen along with some leading Big Bash outfits.

The Bangladeshi side are slated to play Melbourne Renegades on 11 August while they take on Tasmania on the following day.

The tourists will take on Adelaide Strikers, ACT Comets, Shaheen and Perth Scorchers on 14, 15, 16 and 17 August.

The series will feature 30 action-packed T20 matches over 10 days. Teams will compete in a round-robin format, each playing six fixtures.     

The top four teams will play semifinals on 18 August while the final will also take place on the same day.

Akbar Ali, who was made HP Unit’s T20 team captain and One Day team vice-captain, said that they are expecting a tough challenge down under.

“ It will be challenging but we need to learn how to adapt as soon as possible,” said Akbar.

Four Day team: Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy (capt), Parvez Hossain Emon, Amite Hasan, Sahadat Hossain Dipu (vice capt), Ariful Islam, Mahidul Islam Ankon, Aich Mollah, Rakibul Hasan, Sk Peavez Rahman Jibon, Hasan Murad, Rezaur Rahman Raja, Md Mukidul Islam, Ripon Mondol, Maruf Mridha

One Day team: Tanzid Hasan, Jisan Alam, Parvez Hossain Emon, Afif Hossain (capt), Shamim Hossain Patwari, Ariful Islam, Akbar Ali (vice capt), Wasi Siddique, Rakibul Hasan, Sk Peavez Rahman Jibon, Mahfusur Rahman Rabbi, Abu Haider Rony, Md Mukidul Islam, Ripon Mondol, Maruf Mridha

T20 team: Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Jisan Alam, Parvez Hossain Emon, Afif Hossain, Shamim Hossain Patwari, Ariful Islam, Akbar Ali (capt), Wasi Siddique, Rakibul Hasan, Allis Islam, Mahfusur Rahman Rabbi (vice capt), Abu Haider Rony, Md Mukidul Islam, Ripon Mondol, Maruf Mridha