Pak-BD return T20 series on the cards

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is considering playing a return T20 series against Bangladesh in July, following the recent successful negotiations that paved the way for a three-match T20 series in late May in Pakistan.

A well-placed source has told ‘The News’ that such an option was considered during the meeting held between the two cricketing boards recently in Dubai. “Though the series is not a binding or unavoidable or part of any deal, chances are there that Pakistan may travel to Bangladesh to play a three to five-match T20 series in July.

That is a likely scenario at the moment. Pakistan are likely to travel to Bangladesh to play the series. Nothing has been finalised yet, but the current status is like this,” a source told ‘The News’.

The discussion to play the return series in Bangladesh was part of the recent meeting between the heads of the Board in Dubai. “Nothing was finalized there, but a proposal of a return series was floated.”

Bangladesh is due to arrive in Pakistan on May 26 to play a three-match T20 series starting with the opening T20 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on May 28.

With the series against Bangladesh later this month now confirmed, the international cricketing season in Pakistan 2024-2025 concludes. If the return series against Bangladesh materializes in July, it will be the start of a new international season for the Pakistan national team. The 2025-26 season will take Pakistan to the T20 World Cup to be jointly hosted by Sri Lanka and India in February 2026.

Pakistan are also scheduled to play a three-match T20 series against the West Indies in Florida (USA). The PCB is also in negotiations with Cricket USA to play a short series during the team’s stay in the USA for the West Indies series. It is not clear yet whether the series would go ahead as being negotiated.

Asia Cup T20 is also scheduled in September. Following the Asia Cup, South Africa will be travelling to Pakistan for the Test series and T20 series. Pakistan will also be playing an international white-ball series against Australia, Ireland, and Zimbabwe during the coming season.