BCB to consult players before final decision on Pakistan tour
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will now talk to the players before making a final decision on the upcoming tour of Pakistan.
The government has given its approval for the Bangladesh national cricket team to tour Pakistan, with no objections or restrictions from their side. This decision has been officially communicated to the BCB. Now, it’s up to the board to consult with the players and decide whether the tour will go ahead.
On Wednesday, the Bangladesh team left Dhaka in two groups for a two-match T20I series against the UAE. The matches will be held on Saturday and Monday in Sharjah. As per the original schedule, Liton Das and his team were set to travel directly from Dubai to Pakistan. However, the recent India-Pakistan conflict has raised uncertainty around the Pakistan leg of the tour.
BCB director and head of the media committee, Iftekhar Ahmed, told bdnews24.com that no player will be forced to go to Pakistan.
“The government has given the green light today, just a little while ago. That’s stage one. Stage two is, we will now speak with the players. We can’t force them, because it’s a matter of security. There’s no concern from the government’s side. But the players may have their own thoughts. We’ll give them the freedom to decide,” he said.
According to the initial plan, the five-match T20I series in Pakistan was scheduled to begin on May 25. However, that date is now set to change. Following the suspension of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) due to the India-Pakistan conflict, the tournament will resume this Saturday, and the final is now scheduled for May 25.
As a result, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has sent a revised itinerary to the BCB, proposing a new start date of May 27 for the series against Bangladesh.
The BCB has not yet confirmed participation to the PCB, as it was waiting for the government’s stance. Now that the government has raised no objections, the final decision rests with the players.
In the past too, the BCB has prioritized players’ opinions when it came to touring Pakistan. This time is no different, and director Iftekhar Ahmed believes that’s the right approach.
“Security concerns are always sensitive. The players are free to decide as they wish. We won’t impose anything or compel anyone,” he added.
