Families of players and staff concerned about Pakistan tour, says BCB President

The family members of the Bangladesh National Cricket Team players expressed their concerns about their safety if they decide to tour Pakistan in January. 

Also, the coaching staff mostly comprising of foreign professionals is unwilling to travel to the country, which recently hosted a Test match after 10 years against Sri Lanka.

BCB President Nazmul Hasan said that the board understands the concerns and is working to find a solution. But, he also stated that the board responded to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that the team will tour for a T20 series.

Nazmul Hasan was speaking to the media in Mirpur today. 

"There are a lot of issues. There is also the coaching and management staff. Most of our coaching staff have denied touring Pakistan, some have agreed but only for a short period of time. The most important part is the security clearance from the government." said Nazmul.

Bangladesh sent the Women's National Team and the men's Under 16 team to a Pakistan tour. 

"We sent our boys and women's team to Pakistan a few months back. The feedback from them was good. I also visited the country." added BCB Head.

However, unconvinced by the security situation in Pakistan, players have denied touring Pakistan for a long period of time, with some denied touring Pakistan completely.

Nazmul said, "Some of the players are not willing to travel to Pakistan, some are but only for a short span. It is a situation where we can not and will not force anyone to travel there. There are risks in a lot of countries, but it is a bit more in Pakistan. And also, it is tough for anyone mentally and psychologically to be in a close-door situation for a long period of time."

Earlier, BCB stressed on the fact that the team will only tour Pakistan for a T20 series. On Wednesday,  BCB requested Pakistan to arrange the two-match Test series in a neutral venue.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) President Ehsan Mani earlier stressed that the PCB will go to the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding this matter. Asked about it, Nazmul replied that it was completely their (PCB) matter and there is no point of being concerned about that now. He further added, "We have to be concerned about our players and coaching staff. We are not saying that we will not travel there, but as it is for the first time (since 2009), there will be some concern."

Questioned if there is any chance of accepting Pakistan's primary offer of playing out both the T20 and Test series at Pakistan, Nazmul denied and said that for now, he did not see any possibility of that happening. 

The Test series scheduled against Pakistan is a part of the World Test Championship and the BCB President was asked what would be the fate of the Test matches if the two boards could not come to any decision. Nazmul said, "We have done our bit, we have asked them to play the T20 series at Pakistan and the Test matches at a neutral venue. It is not as if they will be doing it for the first time, they had done it with West Indies earlier."

Nazmul also added that BCB wanted cricket to return to Pakistan but thinking must be done regarding the players and the coaching staff. About the fate of the Test matches, Nazmul said, "There are two options. One, it might be rescheduled. Two, if things take turns to the extreme, it will move towards arbitration and the verdict from there has to be followed."

He also said that they will try to send in a formidable squad, but it will be tough as many of the senior players are unwilling to go, especially for a long time. 

The series at Pakistan is scheduled to be held during the latter part of January in 2020.