Dhaka - Bangladesh will host Zimbabwe for a tri-nations Twenty20 tournament in September despite the African nation being suspended by the game's world body, an official of the Bangladesh Cricket Board said on Thursday.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) suspended Zimbabwe in July over a failure to keep the sport free from government interference, putting the country's participation in multi-nation events in doubt.

"We have been informed by the concerned officials that there is no bar on Zimbabwe playing in bilateral matches. They are only suspended from ICC events. This is why we included them in the series," BCB spokesperson Jalal Yunus told AFP.

Afghanistan are the third team in the tournament scheduled to be held from September 13 to 24.

Bangladesh were originally scheduled to play a bilateral series against Afghanistan in September, but officials said Zimbabwe had been included in the series following a request from the strife-torn country.

The tri-series will be preceded by Afghanistan's maiden Test match against Bangladesh in Chittagong from September 5-9.

Fixtures:

August 30: Afghanistan arrive in Bangladesh

September 1-2: Two-day practice match between Afghanistan XI and BCB XI in Chittagong

September 5-9: First and only Test between Bangladesh and Afghanistan in Chittagong

September 8: Zimbabwe arrive in Bangladesh

September 11: T20 practice match between Zimbabwe XI and BCB XI in Fatullah

September 13: Bangladesh v Zimbabwe tri-nation T20I in Dhaka

September 14: Afghanistan v Zimbabwe tri-nation T20I in Dhaka

September 15: Bangladesh v Afghanistan tri-nation T20I in Dhaka

September 18: Bangladesh v Zimbabwe tri-nation T20I in Chittagong

September 20: Afghanistan v Zimbabwe tri-nation T20I in Chittagong

September 21: Bangladesh v Afghanistan tri-nation T20I in Chittagong

September 24: Final of tri-nation T20I in Dhaka