Sports Reporter
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said on Monday that a security team will visit Pakistan by this week to assesss the condition before they take a decision on the upcoming tours.
Bangladesh Under-17 team is expected to travel to Pakistan on October 22 while the following day Women’s national cricket team is expected to tour Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh national cricket team is expected to travel to Pakistan in February to play two Test and three Twenty20 internationals.
“I do not know the exact day when the security team will go but most probably they are going in this week and they will submit a report on the security condition there,” Akram said on Monday.
“Their report is very important and I am again saying the government should give us green signal to go to Pakistan and only after getting their green signal will we decide about it on the board meeting,” he said.
The status of the women's tour could also have an impact. Akram told reporters “As you all know, the BCB president mentioned how security is the top priority on tours after the New Zealand incident [when a terrorist killed 50 people inside two mosques in Christchurch]".
Bangladesh women’s cricket team
Khan would not be drawn on whether the women's tour getting the go-ahead would de fact to be a green light for the men's series, too. "Security is definitely a concern but at the same time, we have to think about the development of women's cricket. But I have said it repeatedly that only when we get the government's green signal, will we go forward."
Ten days out from the women's teams scheduled arrival and with no confirmation, the PCB is understandably concerned. Aside from the logistical and financial hurdles delays would represent to the board, given the significant security effort that needs to go into assuring visiting teams are safe, the PCB is eager to begin a process of normalization for international cricket in Pakistan. There was talk of Ireland visiting in the near future, and the PCB announced the entirety of the PSL would take place in Pakistan in 2020, in addition to a potential Test series against Sri Lanka.
Even if the Bangladesh women's tour was to proceed, the three Indian members of the support staff will not be travelling to Pakistan. Head coach Anju Jain, assistant coach Devika Palshikar, and trainer Kavita Pandey will be absent, the BCB saying they wanted to avoid visa-related difficulties because of the strained political ties between India and Pakistan. A number of Indian nationals involved in the TV production of the recently concluded Sri Lanka series were granted visas however.
Earlier this year, Karachi hosted West Indies women for three T20Is. The Bangladesh women's team last toured Pakistan in 2015, while the men's side hasn't visited since 2008.