The Bangladesh senior men’s team’s two-Test series away in Pakistan, scheduled to begin on August 21 in Rawalpindi, seems uncertain due to the ongoing civil unrest in the country following the resignation and departure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The Bangladesh senior team is set to play two Test matches in Rawalpindi (August 21-25) and Karachi (August 30-September 3), but under the current circumstances, it may be challenging for the national team to travel for the series. Additionally, the Bangladesh A team’s planned tour is also in doubt. Former Test captain Mominul Haque was due to play for the Bangladesh A team against the Pakistan Shaheens (A) in that series.
A source from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) familiar with the situation revealed that the PCB has proposed to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to expedite the arrival of their Test team in Rawalpindi to ensure the series can proceed.
“The PCB has even suggested that they could accommodate the players for additional days and give them access to all training facilities in Rawalpindi before the Test matches, but they haven’t replied yet,” he mentioned.
The BCB, on Monday, postponed the arrival of their A team to Pakistan by 48 hours, which has raised serious concerns about the series between the senior men’s teams from both countries.
There are also reports that the homes of some senior players have been attacked by groups of people, which has worsened the situation. The A team was supposed to arrive in Pakistan tomorrow, and the Test squad was scheduled to arrive on August 17.
The A team’s first four-day match is planned to start on August 11. Bangladesh has not visited Pakistan for a cricket tour since the 2019-20 season.
A source from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) mentioned that they are trying their best to stay in contact with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), but it’s very challenging under the current conditions.
“Since the BCB president (Najmul Hosain Papon) has also left the country, it seems the board is not operating as usual,” he explained.
