Bangladesh reluctant to tour Pakistan for Tests

Dhaka – Chief Executive Officer of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Nizamuddin Chowdhury Sujon on Tuesday said the board is reluctant to send the Tigers to Pakistan to play the scheduled Test series.

He, however, confirmed that the board agreed to play a three-match T20I series in Pakistan.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) President Ehsan Mani has recently insisted that the future home series of Pakistan will take place in Pakistan instead of any neutral venues.

“We understand the situation of PCB to bring back international cricket fully in the country. But there’s a concern about the match environment in Pakistan. At the same time, we have to talk to our players and coaching staff, most of whom are foreigners. Our initial proposal is to play three T20Is in Pakistan which will help us assess the situation,” Nizamuddin told the media.

He, however, did not make any comment on whether Bangladesh will tour Pakistan for Tests if the T20I series goes well.

It means despite the stern position of PCB to host home series on home soil, Bangladesh is firm on their stand not to tour Pakistan for a longer period.

BCB has earlier proposed Pakistan to play the T20I series in Pakistan and asked for arranging the Test series in a neutral venue. But Pakistan did not respond positively.

After Ehsan Mani manifested their position about the forthcoming series, BCB is yet to make any official response to Pakistan till Tuesday. However, it might take a couple of days for BCB to express their reaction.

Bangladesh are scheduled to play two-match Test and three-match T20 series in Pakistan. The Tests series is part of the World Test Championship.

If Bangladesh refuse to go there, Pakistan might bring the issue to the International Cricket Council.UNB