Nafees eyes South Africa tour as World Cup launchpad

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) cricket operations in-charge Shahriar Nafees believes the upcoming tour of South Africa, combined with recent visits by the Bangladesh ‘A’ and High-Performance teams, will give the national side valuable familiarity ahead of the World Cup.

“Before a global tournament, having three teams, with almost 60 players, play in South Africa is definitely a plus point,” Nafees said on Wednesday.

Bangladesh’s tour of South Africa could prove a crucial rehearsal for the 2027 ICC One Day International World Cup, with the Tigers set to play at several venues that will also host matches during the tournament’s South African leg.

The 41-year-old said the benefits would go beyond understanding pitches, with the players gaining familiarity with the cities, hotels, travel arrangements and overall environment.

Tigers are scheduled to play two Tests, three ODIs and three T20 International series in South Africa from 15 November to 13 December, 2026. The 2027 World Cup will be staged across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia from 4 October, 2027.

Before heading to South Africa, Bangladesh will face Afghanistan in a one-off Test in Abu Dhabi before featuring in a three-team ODI tournament involving Afghanistan and Zimbabwe.

Bangladesh’s opening match will be played in Abu Dhabi, with the remaining matches scheduled for Sharjah if they reach the final.

With temperatures in Abu Dhabi soaring and a Test followed by a demanding white-ball schedule, Nafees stressed that player welfare would remain a priority.

“Team management has always considered the health, wellbeing and conditions of the players when planning. We believe they will continue to manage the squad with the next two to three months of important cricket in mind.”

On the next Future Tours Programme (FTP), the BCB cricket operation in-charge said discussions had yet to begin but could start within a month. He added that Bangladesh had been among the busiest Test-playing nations in the previous cycle and hoped to secure another strong schedule.

Nafees also confirmed that the D Three Trophy auction would use a points-based system rather than direct monetary bidding. Each franchise will have a fixed points purse and must build a 23-player squad within that limit.

On England, he said discussions were continuing to expand Bangladesh’s 2027 tour beyond the scheduled one-off Test at Lord’s.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has confirmed the Test for 28 May to 1 June, while Nafees said talks over adding more cricket had been “very positive”.

The former cricketer also dismissed speculation about talks with former South Africa bowling coach Allan Donald, saying he had no information on the matter.