Pakistan’s U19 team to face Bangladesh in first int'l series at home ground in 15 years

KARACHI: Pakistan’s U19 cricket team is set to play its first official international series at its home ground in 15 years, as the Pakistan Cricket Board has confirmed the Bangladesh U19 team's tour to Pakistan.

The tour's dates are not officially announced yet, but it is understood that the tour will take place next month.

A PCB official has confirmed that the Bangladesh U19 team will be touring Pakistan to play one four-day game and five limited-over games and all the matches will be played in Faisalabad.

A final announcement in this regard is expected to be made later this week.

This will be the first official youth series in 15 years to be played in Pakistan. The country last hosted an official youth series in 2007 when Bangladesh toured the country to play in Karachi.

Pakistan was represented by Ahmed Shahzad, Shan Masood, Umar Amin, Imad Wasim, and Umar Akmal in the series. Bangladesh also had would-be internationals like Tamim Iqbal, Rubel Hossain, Dolar Mohammad and Mohammad Mithun.

Even though Afghanistan’s U19 team toured Pakistan in 2014, the games didn’t carry official Youth ODI status. The Afghanistan side had the likes of Rashid Khan, Hazratullah Zazai, Naveen ul Haq, and Karim Jannat who later went on to represent their country.

Experts believe that the performers of the ongoing Pakistan Junior League will also get an opportunity to don Pakistan’s colours during the U19 series against Bangladesh.