Bangladesh to tour Pakistan for T20I series but unsure about Test tour
The chief executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board Wasim Khan has expressed that Bangladesh are not too interested in playing the scheduled Test series in Pakistan but they have proposed to play three T20I’s.
After talks between the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), a three-match Twenty20 series looks set to take place in Pakistan.
The chief executive of the Pakistan Cricket Board Wasim Khan has expressed that Bangladesh are not too interested in playing the scheduled Test series in Pakistan but they have proposed to play three T20I's.
According to the International Cricket Council's (ICC) cricket schedule for 2020, Bangladesh are to play three T20I's and two Test matches in Pakistan.
After a series of talks between the two cricket boards Wasim Khan has said: "We have wanted to know why the BCB are unwilling to have the Test series played in Pakistan."
"We have gotten clearance from the ICC to have the Test series in Pakistan and Sri Lanka are currently touring here for a full series," Khan added.
Although initially ten players from the main Sri Lankan One Day International (ODI) squad did not travel to Pakistan citing security, the main squad is currently in Pakistan playing in the Test series.
Dimuth Karunaratne is one of those players who decided to not tour Pakistan for the ODI series but is now in Pakistan for the Test series and he has said that "Pakistan is now safe for international cricket."
Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), led by legendary Sri Lankan batsman Kumar Sangakkara, are set to tour Lahore, Pakistan next.
The main idea of the tour is to encourage other teams to tour Pakistan in the future and it is set to take place in February 2020, although the date is yet to be made official.
Former Sri Lanka captain Sangakkara, who took over as the first non-British president of the MCC in October in a one-year post, said he was excited to lead the club side in Pakistan.
"It is hugely important to support cricket in countries such as Pakistan, and the PCB has done a tremendous job in rebuilding the international cricketing landscape since the tragic events of 2009," he said in a statement.
"With international cricket having returned for the first time in a decade, it is wonderful the Club is doing its part to strengthen cricket in Pakistan and I look forward to being part of the trip."
MCC works closely with world governing body International Cricket Council and undertakes overseas tours, where they play exhibition matches to help in the development of the game.
Wasim Khan welcomed the decision of MCC, which has been based at Lord's, which it owns, since 1814 and is the custodian of the Laws of the game.
"The decision by the world's oldest and most influential cricket club to send a quality team is further testament that Pakistan is as safe and secure a country as any other cricket-playing nation in the world, and MCC's tour is a further step forward in normalising team tours to Pakistan," he said.
"So I see no reason why Bangladesh would not want to visit Pakistan. The talks are not over and we don't have an option to play Tests elsewhere," Wasim explained.
On the other hand, BCB head of cricket operations Akram Khan has said: "We have left everything at the hands of the government. Now without getting a green signal from the Home Ministry, we cannot say any more on this matter."
Bangladesh government's Minister of State for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Rasel spoke about the tour but did not confirm if Bangladesh would take part in the Test series in Pakistan or not.
"We have to give clearance and certainty whether the BCB will go tour Pakistan or not. There has to be a clearance from both parties and countries. A safety clearance from Pakistan is not enough so we have to get clearance from the Home Ministry to make the tour happen," Rasel explained.