PCB offers to fly out Bangladesh squad for Test series following political crisis - Reports
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has expressed an interest in flying out the Bangladesh squad for the upcoming two-match Test series due to severe political unrest in the subcontinent. Bangladesh is battling a serious crisis after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left the country following her resignation. Houses of notable sporting personalities like Mashrafe Mortaza and Litton Das were burned down as well.
Amid all the chaos, there are doubts about whether the bilateral series will be conducted or scrapped. According to a report by PTI, the PCB has extended an offer to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) which will ensure that the players are safely brought to Pakistan for the series. The offer includes an arrangement for the players to stay for a while after the tour until the crisis back home settles down.
However, the BCB has yet to respond to the PCB's gesture. The cricketing governing body is also facing issues during the testing phase as BCB president Najmul Hossain Papon is also leaving the country.
"The PCB has even offered to host their players for the extra days and provide them with all training facilities in Rawalpindi ahead of the Test matches but they have not responded as yet," a PCB source told PTI.
The Bangladesh A team were also slated to travel to Pakistan for a shadow tour, but they are yet to depart the nation with the airport being shut down. The matches are likely to be postponed, depending on how the situation pans out in the coming days.
The first Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh is scheduled to begin from August 21 onwards
The two-match Test series between the two nations is part of the ongoing 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. The series opener is scheduled to begin on August 21 in Rawalpindi, provided the Bangladesh team can travel to Pakistan without any issues.
The second and final Test, scheduled to start on August 30, will be hosted by Karachi from August 30. Bangladesh last toured Pakistan in 2020 for an all-format tour, but it was hampered by the onset of COVID-19, and the second leg of the tour had to be called off.