Bangladesh’s scheduled tour of Sri Lanka has been finalized on Wednesday (August 12) following a lot of speculations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has confirmed Bangladesh's first three-Test series in six years in Island nation in October.

Following a long hiatus due to the coronavirus outbreak, Bangladesh will be returning to international action with the three-match Test series in Sri Lanka from October 24 in Colombo – which was originally scheduled for July-August – having last played a T20 against Zimbabwe at home on March 11.

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The BCB took the latest decision after a meeting in Dhaka on Wednesday – where it was decided that Bangladesh’s Test squad, as well as, the high-performance side will leave for Colombo on September 23 or 24.

The board will also bear the expenses of the two traveling squads for the first three weeks of the tour, leading into the first Test starting October 24.

Bangladesh is planning to begin the training for the Test series in September – at least 20 days before the Sri Lanka series with the Tigers’ pre-Test stint in the Island country likely to serve as a mandatory COVID-19 14-day quarantine period in the country.

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Akram Khan, the BCB cricket operations chairman, told ESPNcricinfo: “It is exciting to play three Tests but it will also be a difficult time as they [the players] haven't played in last five or six months. They will also have to go through a lot of testing [for the coronavirus]. We are hopeful that it all goes well and according to plan.”

He added: “We will bear the costs of the first three weeks of the tour, including the High-Performance side, which was also scheduled a tour to Sri Lanka in July. Now both teams will travel together and play matches during the initial period.”

Noteworthy, the tour could also mark Shakib Al Hasan's return as his suspension is set to end on October 29.

(With ESPNcricinfo Inputs)