Pakistan cricket team’s upcoming home series against Bangladesh may not go ahead, with the latest news in foreign media suggesting that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is taking a cautious approach as it decides whether to proceed with its scheduled T20I series in Pakistan later this month, following the recent rise in tensions between India and Pakistan.
Bangladesh is set to play five T20 matches in Pakistan from May 25 to June 3, but the current situation has forced the board to delay a final decision. The BCB has announced that, right now, their main concern is the safety of two Bangladeshi cricketers—leg-spinner Rishad Hossain (Lahore Qalandars) and fast bowler Nahid Rana (Peshawar Zalmi)—who are already in Pakistan playing in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
In a statement on Wednesday, the BCB said it is in close contact with both the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Bangladesh High Commission in Islamabad to ensure both players are safe and looked after.
BCB President Faruque Ahmed confirmed that the board will wait for a few more days before deciding whether the full team will travel to Pakistan. “Right now, our priority is the two boys playing in PSL. We’ll see how things develop before making a final call on the tour,” he told local media.
Despite the uncertainty, the BCB has already named a 16-player squad for the upcoming T20 tours of the UAE and Pakistan. The Bangladesh cricket team is scheduled to play two matches against the UAE on May 17 and 19 in Sharjah before the Pakistan leg, if it goes ahead.
With regional tension affecting sports once again, the next few days will be key in deciding not only whether Bangladesh travels to Pakistan or looks for alternate plans, but also whether there are any ACC or ICC events in the near future.