PCB revises Bangladesh tour schedule amid government clearance

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has finalized preparations for the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh with a revised itinerary after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) received official clearance to proceed with the tour.

A PCB official confirmed that while the series will go ahead, minor adjustments have been made to the schedule. Initially set to begin on May 25, the series will now commence on May 27.

The BCB announced on Thursday that it had received approval from the Bangladesh government to proceed with the tour. The decision came after Bangladesh’s highest sports authority agreed in principle to allow the five-match T20I series to take place.

“We have received the green signal from the government, though the official letter is still pending. We expect to receive it soon, but the decision has been made in principle,” BCB said in a statement.

Prior to their Pakistan tour, Bangladesh traveled to the UAE on May 14 to play a two-match T20I series against the hosts, scheduled for May 17 and 19 in Sharjah. The PCB had earlier sent a revised itinerary to the BCB on May 13 following adjustments made to the Pakistan Super League (PSL) schedule due to rising cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan.

Originally set from May 25 to June 3, Bangladesh’s campaign will now start on May 27 and conclude on June 5, as per PCB’s updated schedule. The change was necessitated by the PSL final, now scheduled for May 25, which was initially set to host the first T20I in Faisalabad.

According to the new schedule proposed by PCB, Faisalabad will host the first three matches on May 27, 29, and June 1, followed by the final two games in Lahore on June 3 and 5. Despite securing government clearance, BCB officials acknowledged that concerns remain regarding player participation.

“Once we receive the official confirmation from the government, we will start discussions with the players, as we are aware that some may be hesitant to travel due to security concerns,” the BCB official said.

He emphasized that players will not be forced to join the tour, leaving room for adjustments to the squad should some opt out. The finalization of the tour marks an important step in strengthening cricketing ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh while ensuring necessary precautions are in place for player security.