Bangladesh decline invitation to play T20Is in Pakistan

Bangladesh has turned down an invitation to travel to Pakistan and play 2 T20Is later this year. The team refused to go to Pakistan citing security reasons. The PCB had invited the Bangladesh cricket team to play 2 T20Is in Pakistan after the conclusion of the Champions Trophy in June. However, reports have said that the Bangladesh Cricket Board have agreed to send the national team to play games at a neutral venue.

Amidst tight security, Pakistan successfully hosted the final of the PSL in Lahore this year. Following the smooth conduct of the final, PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan expressed his disappointment towards cricket boards as they refused to play matches in Pakistan. Khan stated that since Pakistan are scheduled to tour Bangladesh in July this year, the PCB would seek an assurance of compensation before the team travels to Bangladesh.

“We have been to Bangladesh in 2015 while they have not visited us since 2008, so we are thinking about asking them for some compensation according to our agreement,” the PCB chairman had said recently. “We may ask them to compensate us financially if they want us to tour in July-August this year,” Khan added.

Following the attacks on the visiting Sri Lankan team back in 2009, teams have refused to travel to Pakistan in order to play cricket. Pakistan has hence taken the UAE as their new home, where they host bilateral tournaments with the bigger cricketing nations.

However, Zimbabwe toured Pakistan for a full tour in 2015, playing 3 ODIs and 2 T20Is. All five games were played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Pakistan went on to win in both formats.

The PCB was also keen to host West Indies, but their efforts were in vain, as the Windies team didn’t think it wise to travel to Pakistan.

Although Pakistan hosted the final of the PSL without any hiccups, Foreign players and big names such as Kevin Pietersen, Rilee Roussow, Luke Wright, Tymal Mills and Nathan McCullum refused to travel to Pakistan due to security reasons.