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Hindustan Times
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Players safety a concern in Pakistan as BCB to consult government agencies and embassy to take final call on T20Is
The Bangladesh tour of Pakistan is in doubt, with the BCB relying on their government security agencies to take a final call on whether they will travel for the rescheduled series. The Pakistan Cricket Board has made the resumption of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) their first priority, which will push their original plans for the Bangladesh T20Is. Pakistan were set to host a five-match T20I series starting May 25. However, with Pakistan Super League (PSL) resuming on May 17 as planned, the T20I series will need to be pushed back by a few days. According to an ESPNcricinfo report, the PCB has already drafted a revised schedule and shared it with the Bangladesh Cricket Board, proposing the series to begin on May 27 and conclude on June 5. However, BCB's media committee chairman Iftekhar Rahman has made it clear that the board has not made a final decision on whether to send the team to Pakistan. Rahman has stated that once the PCB sends them the official reschedule, they will speak with government agencies and the embassy to evaluate whether Pakistan is safe for their team's travel. "Once we receive official communication about the dates and venues [of the tour], we will forward it to the government," Rahman said. "The BCB is not the decision-maker in this matter. If the government agencies and our embassy declare Pakistan safe for travel, only then will we proceed. In our previous meeting, we agreed that any such situation would be referred to the foreign and home ministries. Once we get clearance from all relevant bodies, we will finalise the tour. Security concerns were more significant in the past, but Pakistan has proven it can ensure safety. Still, given the current circumstances, we need to assess whether the situation across the country is stable before sending the team," Rahman told ESPNCricinfo. PCB has already announced the resumption of the T20 tournament after India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire. "The PSL 2025 will resume on May 17, with the final on May 25. The League will pick up from where it left off, six teams with zero fear," PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said in a post on X. The four remaining group games will take place at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, with the playoffs and final in Lahore, the PCB said in a release.
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First Post
13-05-2025
- Sport
- First Post
Another blow for PCB, Bangladesh to wait for government nod before confirming Pakistan tour
The PCB is facing fresh trouble as Bangladesh have delayed confirming their Pakistan tour. This after the Pakistan board announced the resumption of PSL 2025 with revised schedule that is clashing with the Bangladesh series. read more The BCB has said that it will need government nod to travel to Pakistan. Image: AFP The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is facing one setback after another in its attempt to bring cricket back to normalcy amid the ongoing Indo-Pak tensions. After suspending the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025 indefinitely last week following the escalation in the India-Pakistan conflict, the board is now reportedly struggling to convince foreign players to return. Last week's drone attack just outside the Rawalpindi stadium forced PCB to postpone PSL 2025 and send overseas players to Dubai. The situation raised serious security concerns as there were also reports that claimed an attack took place at a Pakistani military base from where foreign players had left the country just hours ago. Since then, India and Pakistan have agreed to a ceasefire. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A new headache for PCB Now, reports suggest that overseas cricketers are reluctant to travel back to Pakistan as PCB has confirmed to restart the league. Adding to the PCB's troubles, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has stated that it will wait for a green signal from its government before confirming the team's T20I tour to Pakistan later this month. 'Once we receive official communication about the dates and venues [of the tour], we will forward it to the government. The BCB is not the decision-maker in this matter. If the government agencies and our embassy declare Pakistan safe for travel, only then will we proceed,' BCB's media committee chairman Iftekhar Rahman was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo. 'In our previous meeting, we agreed that any such situation would be referred to the foreign and home ministries. Once we get clearance from all relevant bodies, we will finalise the tour. Security concerns were more significant in the past, but Pakistan has proven it can ensure safety. Still, given the current circumstances, we need to assess whether the situation across the country is stable before sending the team,' he added. The tour was originally scheduled from 25 May to 3 June but it has come under uncertainty after the PSL final was moved to 25 May, the same day the two sides were supposed to play the first T20I. While a revised schedule has reportedly been proposed by the PCB, with matches now starting on 27 May, the BCB has made it clear that they will not travel without consulting the government. On this side of the border, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has also announced the resumption of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 after a week-long suspension. The IPL will restart on 17 May and will run until 3 June. The BCCI is also facing the same issue of some foreign players unwilling to travel back, especially from Australia.
Express Tribune
27-01-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
BCB plans legal action against BPL team over payment row
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has decided to take legal action against BPL team Durbar Rajshahi for failing to pay their overseas players and team hotel bills. According to Iftekhar Rahman, chairman of the BCB media committee, the board had given the franchise several chances to resolve the matter but has now run out of patience. The issue reached a breaking point when unpaid overseas players refused to play in Sunday's match against Rangpur Riders. This forced Rajshahi to field an XI made up entirely of local players, breaking BPL rules that require at least two overseas players in the playing XI. The BPL governing council allowed the rule to be bent, marking the first time in the tournament's history that a team played without any foreign players. "We have to take legal action by any means now," said Iftekhar. "The money has to be paid. Otherwise, BPL's reputation will be ruined. We have been patient, but they have crossed all limits. We will file cases for breach of contract and other violations." Despite the challenges, Rajshahi managed a surprising two-run win over table-toppers Rangpur. Captain Taskin Ahmed called it a "new experience" and shared the struggles the team faced on match day. "We had to change hotels on the morning of the game due to booking issues," Taskin said. "Then, just two hours before heading to the stadium, we were told the foreign players wouldn't play. The board asked us locals to go ahead and play, and we did our best to focus on the game." Taskin also revealed that local players received some payments on the same day, though there are concerns about whether the cheques will clear. "Everyone expects to play in a peaceful environment," he added. "But we're trying to stay positive and perform despite these issues." Six foreign players, including Pakistan's Mohammad Haris and Aftab Alam, have refused to play in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) citing unpaid dues. According to Bangladeshi media, the foreign players from BPL team Durbar Rajshahi boycotted matches over the non-payment of their salaries. This marks the second instance of such a dispute in the ongoing BPL season. The players refusing to participate include Lahiru, McCauley Cummins, Mark Doyle, and Ryan Burl, in addition to the Pakistani players. Due to the unavailability of foreign players, Durbar Rajshahi fielded an all-local batting lineup in their match against Rangpur Riders. All local players were included in the playing XI to compensate for the absence of the foreign stars.
