Pakistan to tour Bangladesh for white-ball series in July
The Pakistan men's cricket team will tour Bangladesh for a white-ball series in July outside the ICC Future Tours Programme (FTP), according to reports.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have finalised the arrangement, with schedule and venue details to be announced later.
The development follows discussions between PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and BCB President Faruque Ahmed during Ahmed's recent visit to Dubai amid the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy.
Bangladesh is already scheduled to tour Pakistan in May for a three-match ODI and three-match T20I series under the FTP. BCB Cricket Operations Head Shahriar Nafees previously stated that both boards were in positive discussions regarding an additional white-ball series in July.
Bangladesh's upcoming commitments include a two-Test series against Zimbabwe in April, a home series against Sri Lanka in June-July, and a series against India in August-September.
The team will also compete in the Asia Cup in September before hosting the West Indies and Ireland later in the year.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
3 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Sana Mir takes centre-stage with bell-ringing at Lord's
Ex-Pak women's cricket captain Sana Mir rings the bell on second day of the ICC World Test Championship Final between Australia and South Africa at Lord's. PHOTO: AFP Sana Mir, former captain of Pakistan's women's cricket team and a newly inducted ICC Hall of Famer, was given the honour of ringing the bell at Lord's on Thursday, marking the start of day two of the World Test Championship (WTC) final between Australia and South Africa. The ceremonial bell ringing, a cherished tradition at the 'Home of Cricket' since 2007, is performed by a notable former player to signal the commencement of daily play in a Test match. Sana took centre stage to perform the ritual ahead of the second day's play, symbolising the beginning of another action-packed day. Her appearance was met with warm applause from fellow cricketers, officials and spectators present at Lord's. The WTC final, contested between Australia and South Africa, continued under clear skies as Sana's symbolic gesture set the tone for another riveting day of red-ball cricket at the historic ground. Sana's bell-ringing honour came shortly after her induction into the ICC Hall of Fame, recognising her exceptional international career. She represented Pakistan in 226 matches and captained the side in over a hundred fixtures, becoming a trailblazer for women's cricket in the country. It is pertinent to mention that Sana was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame just days earlier, becoming the first woman cricketer from Pakistan to receive this honour. The former off-spinner, who served Pakistan cricket for nearly 15 years, is also only the 14th female cricketer globally to be included in the elite list. Overall, she is the eighth Pakistani cricketer to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, joining the ranks of legends such as Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Javed Miandad, Abdul Qadir, Zaheer Abbas, Waqar Younis, and Hanif Mohammad. Mohammad Yousuf resigns from coaching duties Former Pakistan captain and renowned batter, Mohammad Yousuf, has stepped down from his coaching duties at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), concluding his latest association with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Sources confirmed that Yousuf submitted his resignation to the PCB earlier this week, citing personal commitments as the primary reason for his decision to leave. The 50-year-old, who was previously involved with the men's national team, had served as the batting coach during Pakistan's recent tour of New Zealand. Yousuf's appointment as NCA batting coach was aimed at nurturing the next generation of Pakistan's batters. Though the PCB has yet to release an official statement, insiders suggest Yousuf's departure was amicable, with the possibility of future collaboration left open. As the PCB continues to refine its coaching structure in light of upcoming international assignments, Yousuf's exit is expected to prompt further reshuffling within the development pathways at the NCA.
Express Tribune
19 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Babar Azam joins Sydney Sixers for BBL 15: Pakistani cricket icon shares reaction online
The Sydney Sixers have secured Pakistan's star batter Babar Azam for the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) 15 season. The signing, confirmed on June 13, marks one of the most significant acquisitions in the history of the competition. Babar Azam, widely regarded as one of the finest batters in modern cricket, will bring his skill, consistency, and leadership experience to the Sixers this summer. As per BBL regulations, each team is allowed to sign one international player before the official BBL 15 Draft, which is set to take place on June 19. The Sixers capitalised on this opportunity to secure the services of the Pakistan cricket icon. The development also comes after PCB confirmed it issued No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to key Pakistani players, allowing Babar to join Sydney Sixers. A veteran of over a decade in Pakistan's national team, Babar captained the side from 2019 to 2024 and led them to the semi-finals of the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup and the final of the 2022 edition. Known for his poise under pressure and his technical mastery, he has consistently ranked among the world's top batters in both ODIs and T20Is. Babar's accolades include being named ICC ODI Cricketer of the Year in 2021 and 2022, as well as ICC Men's Cricketer of the Year in 2022. He also holds the record for the fastest player to reach 5,000 ODI runs, achieving the milestone in just 97 innings. With over 11,000 T20 runs to his name, Babar has proven himself a force in the shortest format of the game. Speaking on his signing, Babar expresses enthusiasm and stated he was 'super pumped' to be joining the side. His experience in major global leagues, including the Pakistan Super League, Caribbean Premier League, and various English domestic competitions, further bolsters his credentials. This high-profile signing will see Babar make his debut in the BBL and will add a powerful asset to the Sixers' squad. Notably, Babar will be available for the entire season, including the finals, significantly enhancing the team's prospects for the title. Sydney Sixers squad for BBL 15 (to date): Sean Abbott, Babar Azam, Joel Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Moises Henriques, Todd Murphy, Mitch Perry, Josh Philippe, Jordan Silk, Steve Smith
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Imad urges Babar, Rizwan's inclusion in T20 squad
Former Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim has expressed his strong support for star batter Babar Azam and former T20I captain Mohammad Rizwan, urging critics to trust their capabilities in the T20 format. Speaking in a recent interview with a local sports platform, Imad highlighted the need for adaptability and a fresh mindset in T20 cricket. "Simple is that — that should be the message and if they are willing to change it, if they want to play happy for them because they are such big players such big names for Pakistan and fans because people want to see them play like this and I am specifically talking about T20 cricket," Imad stated. Responding to recent debates surrounding Babar Azam's role in the national side, the 36-year-old clarified that his earlier comments were specifically focused on T20 cricket and not a critique of Babar's performances in other formats. "I am not talking about ODI or Test cricket because in ODI cricket Babar has got the best record in the world he will never be dropped to be honest and even in Test cricket so no question about Babar's performance like it's 50-over format you need some players to play like that and Babar does it better than anyone else in the world so One-Day cricket is totally different," he explained. Imad further stressed the importance of introspection among senior players when it comes to the T20 format. "But T20 I am talking about, I think they need to reflect if they they want to play T20 cricket and I know they can play and hopefully they will turn up and prove everybody wrong and I should be the one who will praise them," he concluded. For the unversed, Babar Azam — who led Pakistan in three consecutive ICC Men's T20 World Cups (2021, 2022, and 2024) — last played a T20I in December 2023. Since then, he has missed both the home series against New Zealand in March and the ongoing three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, which began on May 28 in Lahore. Babar, who has faced criticism for his dip in form in T20Is, has not scored a half-century since his 75-run innings against Ireland in May 2023. He has represented Pakistan in 128 T20Is, scoring 4,223 runs at an average of 39.83, including three centuries and 36 fifties. Earlier this year, both Babar and Rizwan were left out of the five-match T20I series in New Zealand as selectors looked to give opportunities to younger players. The duo has yet to return to the T20I setup since then. In a notable change, Mohammad Rizwan was recently removed from the T20I captaincy after leading the side in just two series. All-rounder Salman Ali Agha was named the new skipper and recently guided Pakistan to a dominant 3-0 series win over Bangladesh in Lahore.
