BCB denies media report, says it is still sticking to its stance

The Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury refuted media reports regarding PCB's rejection of BCB proposal of playing one Test in Pakistan and one in Dhaka, saying that the BCB is still sticking to its stance of only considering playing the three-match T20 series in Pakistan.

Earlier in the day, a PTI report quoting an unnamed source in PCB said that the Pakistan Board rejected its Bangladesh counterparts' proposal of playing one Test in Pakistan, provided the second match of the ICC World Test Championship be held in Dhaka, according to PTI in Karachi.

A PCB official said that the board has rejected the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) proposal, making it clear that the two Tests were part of Pakistan’s home series and must be played there.

“It is strange that the BCB wants Pakistan to play a Test in Bangladesh in return,” the official said.

However, when brought into his notice, Nizamuddin refuted the media report. "We don't know who publsihed what news. BCB is still sticking to its previous stance. We are not taking into cognizance any other news."

BCB president Nazmul Hassan had said on December 26 that the Bangladesh team can only go to Pakistan to play three T20 matches, and that too after getting security green signal from the government and after consulting with the players and coaching staff. 

The Bangladesh team is due to tour Pakistan from January 18 to play two Tests and three T20 Internationals but the tour is still uncertain after BCB officials said that they will just play the T20 series there and not the Tests.

The PCB, however, has ruled out hosting the Test matches at a neutral venue.

“Privately the proposal to have one Test in Pakistan and one in Bangladesh has been floated but has been rejected,” the PCB official said.