Bangladesh tour of Pakistan unlikely due to coronavirus threat

After a lot of deliberation, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) agreed to have Bangladesh's tour of Pakistan broken down into three legs.

But now because of the worldwide coronavirus outbreak, the third leg of the tour in Karachi is under threat.

Bangladesh had previously played three twenty20 internationals (T20Is) in the first leg while they played a Test in the second leg.

In the third leg, scheduled to take place in April, Bangladesh are supposed to play Pakistan for a one-off one-day international (ODI) and the second Test.

Both Tests are part of the ICC World Test Championship.

A trusted source from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has told The Business Standard that even if the tour does not take place in April, it will happen at a later date at an opportune moment.

In Karachi, nine have been tested positive with coronavirus and 20 overall, have tested positive in Pakistan.

The third leg of the Pakistan tour came under a cloud from the time when five people were tested positive with coronavirus there.

At that time, two people in Karachi tested positive with coronavirus and as a precaution, all schools in Karachi have been closed from 2-13 March.

With the situation getting worse, the time to keep all educational institutions closed have been extended.

Extra security and safety measures have been taken at the Jinnah International airport in Karachi, where passengers coming in are being tested for coronavirus.

Although nothing has been made official by the BCB on this matter their CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury said: "It wouldn't be right to say anything on this matter at the moment. We are looking at how the Indian Premier League (IPL) progresses. But the decision is not hinging on the IPL. What's happening worldwide will be taken into consideration. Lots of flights are off. We are closely observing the situation. After that, we'll come to a decision."