Bangladesh tour of Pakistan confirmed
Bangladesh were initially scheduled to play five T20Is in Lahore and Faisalabad. Photo: AFP/File
The Bangladesh cricket team's tour of Pakistan has been confirmed on Tuesday, ending uncertainty surrounding the series.
According to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), now three T20Is, all in Lahore, will be player instead of five which were initally scheduled, with the dates to be announced soon.
The confirmation came after an extended meeting between PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chairman Nazmul Abedeen and President Farooq Ahmed.
Following the successful talks, both boards agreed to move forward with the series despite earlier concerns.
The three-match T20I series will mark an important step in cricketing relations between the two nations.
PCB chairman expressed his gratitude to the BCB leadership for finalising the tour and reaffirming their commitment to bilateral cricket.
Bangladesh will be led by experienced wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das, who was officially appointed as the T20I captain earlier this year after Najmul Hossain Shanto stepped down.
Off-spinner Mahedi Hasan has been named vice-captain for both the UAE and Pakistan tour.
It is pertinent to mention that the series had faced uncertainty due to rising tensions between India and Pakistan, as well as the mid-season postponement of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Originally, Bangladesh was scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on May 21 in two groups, with a five-match T20I series set to begin on May 25 in Faisalabad. However, logistical adjustments and security considerations have now led to a revised three-match series, all to be hosted in Lahore.
Bangladesh squad for T20Is in UAE and Pakistan: Litton Das (captain), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain, Soumya Sarkar, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Jaker Ali, Rishad Hossain, Mahedi Hasan (vice-capt), Tanvir Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nahid Rana and Shoriful Islam
Tentative schedule
27 May – 1st T20I, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore – 8:00 PM
29 May – 2nd T20I, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore – 8:00 PM
31 May – 3rd T20I, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore – 8:00 PM
ICC meeting
The International Cricket Council's (ICC) annual conference is scheduled to take place from July 17 to 20 in Singapore, with significant decisions expected on various matters concerning the future of the game.
The meeting will be chaired for the first time by ICC chairman Jay Shah, who recently took over the role.
This year's conference is expected to see some pivotal discussions and possible changes to the sport's playing conditions and administrative frameworks.
One of the main items on the agenda is the review of several recent recommendations made by the ICC Cricket Committee, led by former India captain and ex-BCCI president Sourav Ganguly.
Among the most notable proposals is a change to the current One-Day International (ODI) playing conditions, suggesting the use of a single ball from the 25th over onward. This move is intended to revive the art of reverse swing, which has diminished under the existing two-ball rule.
In addition, the conference will deliberate on the introduction of in-game clocks in Test cricket to enforce the completion of 90 overs per day. The system would be modeled after the over-rate regulation seen in white-ball formats, where a strict 60-second interval is maintained between overs.
Another important proposal expected to be discussed involves the restructuring of the U-19 Men's World Cup.
The ICC is considering transitioning the tournament from its traditional 50-over format to the T20 format, bringing it in line with the recently introduced U-19 Women's World Cup.
This year's annual gathering will also feature elections to the Chief Executives' Committee (CEC), where three representatives from ICC Associate Members will be chosen.
The electoral process will be conducted by a voting college consisting of 45 Associate Members, and the new appointees will serve a two-year term.
While these proposals have been acknowledged, there has been no indication that the ICC Board has formally addressed them, and sources believe the likelihood of acceptance remains slim due to a lack of backing from major full member boards.
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