Nazmul claims BCB remains firm on previous stand

BCB boss returns home after settling ‘controversial issue’

Even though some people think the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has lost to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in recent cricket diplomacy, BCB president Nazmul Hassan Papon said they did not budge from their previous position.

He also maintained that they had never said they would not tour Pakistan to play the upcoming bilateral series. He clarified that they wanted to tour Pakistan first to play a Twenty20 International series and only then to consider playing Test matches over there.

After scrutinising the overall security situation in Pakistan, the government advised the BCB to keep the Bangladesh national cricket team’s upcoming tour of Pakistan as short as possible. “I don’t know why they (people) are saying this. First they say Bangladesh must play a full series. Then, they said we will have to play Tests first. We don’t see any reason for them to say this,” said Papon.

“The criticism seems strange to me. What we said earlier has taken place. I told media on the very first day that we will return home after playing the T20 series only and decide the matter of playing Tests later,” Papon told the media at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on his return home from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

“The government has said what we have been saying from the beginning. They told us to keep the Pakistan tour short. Considering the prevailing conditions, we will play Tests next time as part of the ICC’ World Test Championship (WTC),” he added.

In presence of International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Shashank Manohar, the PCB reached a consensus with the BCB on their upcoming series in Dubai following the ICC’s Governance Review Committee meeting.

As per the agreement, Bangladesh will tour Pakistan in three phases to play a three-match T20I series, two Tests, and a one-off ODI that has been newly added to the previous fixture of the series.

“ICC president Shashank Manohar held talks with me. He told me to meet him. When I went to meet him at his office, I saw Pakistani officials were already there. We also talked with them. Then, ICC president told us to sit again at 2:30pm,” the BCB president said.

When asked about the additional one-off ODI, Papon said they had done it in place of a T20 match as part of their preparation prior to the second and last Test in Karachi.

“We told them we wanted to return home to play the T20 series only. Then we will find time to tour for the Tests,” he added.

“Pakistan is facing losses. We need a practice match to play against Pakistan on Pakistan soil. Then, they proposed a T20 match because their earnings will go up in case of T20 matches,” he told the media.

“Hosting Bangladesh in three phases increases their cost a lot. There is not enough time to create a big market for it. We feel it will be better for our practice if it is a one-day match,” he explained.

Nazmul claims BCB remains firm on previous stand

BCB boss returns home after settling controversial issue

Even though some people think the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has lost to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in recent cricket diplomacy, BCB president Nazmul Hassan Papon said they did not budge from their previous position. He also maintained that they had never said they would not tour Pakistan to play the upcoming bilateral series. He clarified that they wanted to tour Pakistan first to play a Twenty20 International series and only then to consider playing Test matches over there. After scrutinising the overall security situation in Pakistan, the government advised the BCB to keep the Bangladesh national cricket teams upcoming tour of Pakistan as short as possible. I dont know why they (people) are saying this. First they say Bangladesh must play a full series. Then, they said we will have to play Tests first. We dont see any reason for them to say this, said Papon. The criticism seems strange to me. What we said earlier has taken place. I told media on the very first day that we will return home after playing the T20 series only and decide the matter of playing Tests later, Papon told the media at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on his return home from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The government has said what we have been saying from the beginning. They told us to keep the Pakistan tour short. Considering the prevailing conditions, we will play Tests next time as part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC), he added. In presence of International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Shashank Manohar, the PCB reached a consensus with the BCB on their upcoming series in Dubai following the ICCs Governance Review Committee meeting. As per the agreement, Bangladesh will tour Pakistan in three phases to play a three-match T20I series, two Tests, and a one-off ODI that has been newly added to the previous fixture of the series. ICC president Shashank Manohar held talks with me. He told me to meet him. When I went to meet him at his office, I saw Pakistani officials were already there. We also talked with them. Then, ICC president told us to sit again at 2:30pm, the BCB president said. When asked about the additional one-off ODI, Papon said they had done it in place of a T20 match as part of their preparation prior to the second and last Test in Karachi. We told them we wanted to return home to play the T20 series only. Then we will find time to tour for the Tests, he added. Pakistan is facing losses. We need a practice match to play against Pakistan on Pakistan soil. Then, they proposed a T20 match because their earnings will go up in case of T20 matches, he told the media. Hosting Bangladesh in three phases increases their cost a lot. There is not enough time to create a big market for it. We feel it will be better for our practice if it is a one-day match, he explained.