The two-Test series between Bangladesh and Pakistan, scheduled to commence on August 21 in Rawalpindi, faces uncertainty due to ongoing civil unrest in Bangladesh. The unrest, sparked by the forced resignation and escape of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has disrupted travel plans for the Bangladesh team.
The Bangladesh A team’s shadow tour to Pakistan has already been affected by the unrest. Former Test skipper Mominul Haque was set to play for the A team against Pakistan Shaheens, but the tour has been postponed. The arrival of both the A and Test teams in Pakistan is now in doubt.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is making efforts to salvage the series. They have offered to host the Bangladesh players for additional days and provide training facilities in Rawalpindi ahead of the Test matches. However, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has not yet responded.
The BCB has delayed the arrival of their A side to Pakistan by 48 hours, adding further uncertainty to the series. Reports have also emerged that homes of some senior Bangladesh players have been attacked by mobs, complicating the situation further.
The A team was originally scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on August 10, while the Test squad was due on August 17. The A team’s first four-day game is set to begin on August 11.
The Bangladesh cricket team has not toured Pakistan since the 2019-2020 season. The PCB is actively trying to maintain communication with the BCB, but the current circumstances make it challenging.
“With the BCB president (Najmul Hosain Papon) also leaving the country, apparently the board is not functioning normally,” a PCB source said.
The ongoing unrest in Bangladesh has cast a shadow over the upcoming Test series against Pakistan. The PCB is hopeful of salvaging the series, but the situation remains fluid and the arrival of the Bangladesh teams is uncertain.
