While the proposed Bangladesh men's tour of Ireland may be currently stuck in cricketing Purgatory, there was a major boost for the women's game with the news that the Bangladesh Cricket Board had given the go-ahead for their women to play in Ireland this summer.

A total of four one-day internationals and three Twenty20 matches are on the agenda and will be played probably towards the end of August following the European Championships.

Ireland of course retained their one-day international status after beating the Netherlands in a crucial decider match in Bangladesh last year.

The team begin their new season this weekend with a double-header of fixtures in Division Three of the ECB County Championships with fixtures against Leicestershire and Huntingdon & Cambridgeshire.