Bangladesh Cricket Board will come to a decision over the national team’s tour of Pakistan by Thursday.
BCB president Nazmul Hasan Wednesday evening informed the media that the decision will be made with a slight change in plans.
BCB is considering playing the Test match series first and the T20I series on a later date.
The decision has come following request from the Pakistan Cricket Board that was driven from the BCB's rigid decision for a split series.
The announcement from BCB chief Nazmul came following a meeting with influential members of the board.
Bangladesh’s tour of Pakistan, slated for this January-February and comprising two Tests and three T20Is, was put in uncertainty over a confirmation pending from the BCB.
The @BCBtigers Bangladesh Cricket Board has begun taking consent from cricketers for the upcoming tour of @TheRealPCB scheduled for January-February.https://t.co/ljp5IpmkhB#BCBTIGERS #BCB #TIGERS #BANGLADESH #CRICKET #BANGLADESHCRICKET #PAKISTAN #PCB #PAKISTANCRICKET
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) January 7, 2020
The board urged the PCB for a split series with T20Is played first and the two Tests on a later date.
This however, was subject to government clearance, which saw significant development Tuesday night.
A few cricketers, including current Bangladesh Test captain Mominul Haque, is reported to have signed the government order for Bangladesh’s first tour of Pakistan since 2008.
Wednesday evening, two other cricketers in the shape of Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah met the BCB supremo and other high-ups for a discussion over the tour.
“We had told them that we want to bring our team back following the T20I series and play the Test series at a different date. Following discussion with them [PCB] we are told that they are more interested in the Test series as the matches are part of the Test Championship,” said Nazmul to the media at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka Wednesday.
Nazmul hinted the board has received partial clearance from the security agencies with some pending points to be discussed soon.
Tigers ODI captain Mashrafe bin Mortaza will once again be in the limelight when @BCBtigers host @ZimCricketv for three ODIs, two T20Is and a solitary Test match in February-March this year.https://t.co/n6O9KWcsD3#BCBTIGERS #BCB #TIGERS #BANGLADESHCRICKET #BANGLADESH #CRICKET
— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) January 8, 2020
However, the decision of the majority of the foreign coaching staffs of Bangladesh to not be a part of this tour remains the same.
“Most of our coaching staffs will not be part of this tour. Head coach [Russell Domingo] said he will be part of this series but only if it is for T20I series. The players also want a short stay,” said Nazmul.
“We got the report from the security agencies but still there are some discussions pending. I believe by [Thursday] we will be able to reach a decision. One cannot fully guarantee fool-proof security. Our security agencies assessed the arrangement that Pakistan will have in place for our team and we have been provided reports based on that. There is no way that one can say the arrangement is not upto mark. I have seen it myself and it looks good,” the BCB boss added.
Bangladesh as per initial schedule were scheduled to travel to Pakistan on January 18.
Dhaka Tribune understands if the tour goes ahead, the BCB has the intention to make the team travel a day before the start of the series, which now is likely to involve longer-version cricket.
