BCB seeks government clearance to finalise Pak tour

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will seek government clearance before finalising their upcoming tour of Pakistan, which includes five T20Is scheduled for later this month.

A BCB official confirmed the development to The Daily Star yesterday, adding that a final decision on the tour has not yet been made. The tour proposal comes after a recent ceasefire agreed between Pakistan and neighbouring India following a period of heightened tension. However, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sent the BCB a revised itinerary yesterday, which states the start date of the series on May 27 in Faisalabad.

According to the earlier schedule, the first T20I was slated for May 25 in Faisalabad. However, due to the rescheduling of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) -- which will now resume on May 17 and conclude on May 25 -- the PCB had to revise the fixtures for the Bangladesh series, as the original dates clashed with the PSL final.

"They have unofficially asked for our consent regarding the series. Once we receive official communication about the dates and venues, we will forward it to the government. The BCB is not the decision-maker in this matter," said Iftekhar Rahman Mithu, chairman of BCB's media and communications committee.

"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," he added.

Iftekhar also emphasised the board's focus on player safety, noting that Pakistan has demonstrated its ability to provide adequate security by successfully hosting several bilateral series, the ICC Champions Trophy, and PSL in recent years.

"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 said, adding that the board might also have concerns regarding the choice of venues.

Meanwhile, the national team will depart for the UAE today at 10:15 am (Bangladesh time) for a two-match T20I series against the hosts in Sharjah. The matches are scheduled for May 17 and 19.

If the Pakistan tour goes ahead, the team is expected to travel there directly from the UAE. Otherwise, they will return home.

A PCB media official expressed optimism about holding the five-match T20I series at the previously designated venues -- Faisalabad and Lahore -- but with revised dates.