Bangladesh Cricket Tour of Pakistan in Doubt Amid Political Turmoil

The ongoing unrest in Bangladesh has cast doubt on their upcoming cricket tour of Pakistan. The country has been experiencing severe anti-government protests, which began last month when university students peacefully demanded the abolition of quotas in civil service jobs. Despite the government meeting most of these demands, the protest escalated into a violent movement, resulting in the deaths of over 300 people.

On August 6, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India. Following her resignation, Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman assumed control, but the violence continues. Protestors have destroyed Hasina’s official residence and properties belonging to members of her Awami League party. Reports even indicate that the house of former cricket captain Mashrafe Mortaza was set on fire.

Bangladesh’s Tour of Pakistan Uncertain

Given the ongoing violence, Bangladesh’s men’s cricket team’s tour of Pakistan is in jeopardy. The two-match Test series is scheduled to start on August 21 in Rawalpindi. According to a PTI report, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has offered assistance to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), including flying the Test team to Rawalpindi early to ensure the series proceeds as planned.

“The PCB has even offered to host their players for the extra days and provide them with all the training facilities in Rawalpindi ahead of the Test matches, but they have not responded yet,” a source said. With BCB President Najmul Hasan Papon also having left the country, the board’s operations are reportedly not functioning normally.

Additional Cricket Tours Also Affected

The turmoil in Bangladesh has also put the Bangladesh A team’s tour of Pakistan in doubt. The BCB delayed the team’s arrival by 48 hours, with the series scheduled to begin on August 11. Moreover, reports suggest that Bangladesh could lose the hosting rights for this year’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, scheduled for October. The ICC is likely to change the venue, with India emerging as a strong contender.

The situation remains fluid, and the PCB’s offer of assistance underscores their commitment to ensuring the cricket series can go ahead safely. However, with ongoing violence and political instability, the future of Bangladesh’s cricket tours remains uncertain.