Anvir Cricket Stadium set for ECB inspection on Monday ahead of England tour

Anvir Cricket Stadium at ABG Sports City is set to take another significant step towards hosting international cricket when a delegation from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), accompanied by Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) officials, inspects its facilities on Monday ahead of England's scheduled tour of Bangladesh in February 2027.

The delegation is scheduled to arrive at the stadium directly from the airport at around 11 am, ABG Sports City Director Imrul Hassan confirmed to the Daily Sun on Sunday.

"They will come straight from the airport with representatives from the ECB and the BCB to inspect our facilities," Imrul said.

More significantly, the venue is expected to host a three-day practice match involving the touring England side and could also serve as a training base during their stay in Bangladesh ahead of the Test series.

According to Imrul, also the senior vice-president of the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) and president of Bashundhara Kings, the BCB has already confirmed the venue for England's preparations while Monday's inspection will allow the visiting officials to assess the facilities and ensure they meet the touring side's requirements.

The delegation is expected to examine the artificial turf, gymnasium and other amenities.

"The BCB has already confirmed it. The delegation simply wants to verify whether all the required facilities are in place," Imrul added.

The proposed England assignment would add another major event to Anvir Cricket Stadium's growing portfolio since its entry into Bangladesh's mainstream cricketing calendar.

The venue made its international breakthrough in October when it hosted a two-day unofficial warm-up match between a BCB XI and the touring West Indies. 

The match ended in a draw, with the BCB XI declaring on 371-7 before West Indies finished on 336-6.

Since then, the stadium has hosted National Cricket League (NCL) Second XI matches, Dhaka Premier League (DPL) and age-group fixtures alongside corporate competitions and the inaugural ABG University Cup.

It also staged the Dhaka Mavericks Frost Blast T20 Corporate Season 3, won by Bashundhara Strikers on Saturday and is currently serving as the sole venue for the second T20 Asia Cup Cricket for the Blind.

England are expected to tour Bangladesh in February 2027 for one or two Test matches while Bangladesh are expected to tour England for a one-off Test match. 

The match is expected to mark Tigers' first Test on English soil in around 17 years.

For Anvir Cricket Stadium, Monday's inspection is therefore more than a routine assessment. 

It could bring the rapidly developing venue closer to hosting another major international cricket assignment and further strengthen its position on Bangladesh's cricketing map.