Russell Domingo has stated that he's willing to tour Pakistan, provided that the Bangladesh Cricket Board gives the green signal for the tour.
Bangladesh head coach said he does not have a problem travelling to Pakistan if the Bangladesh Cricket Board agrees to send the national team for the tour.
BCB president Nazmul Hasan recently said that the players and the coaching staff have expressed their concern over touring Pakistan, and added that it will be difficult to go ahead with the Test series in 'a suffocating environment' due to the stringent security measures. The PCB, though, is adamant not to play any home Test outside Pakistan.
The Bangladeshi coaching staff includes four South Africans - head coach Russell Domingo, batting consultant Neil McKenzie, fielding coach Ryan Cook and newly appointed physiotherapist Julian Calefato. The other members are New Zealand's Daniel Vettori who is the spin consultant, Indian analyst Shrinivaas Chandrasekaran and strength and conditioning coach Mario Villavarayan from Sri Lanka.
Domingo said that some members of the team management have declined to tour Pakistan but insisted that he is ready to make himself available if BCB decides to send the team. "I think some guys [of the team management] are not keen to go. But if we have to, then I am going," said Domingo.
Domingo says he is prepared to tour Pakistan, "If we have to, then I am going." "I think we can only discuss the matter once the decision is made. We need to discuss with the cricket board and the board will decide what will happen next," he added.
Domingo has admitted that “some guys are not keen to go” to Pakistan later this month. There has been a lot of speculation about whether the tour will go ahead due to the hesitancy of many Bangladesh players to travel to Pakistan.
However, Domingo made it clear that he is willing to go to Pakistan if he and the national team are “given clearance to go”. “If the team is given clearance to go, then I will go. If the team isn’t given clearance, then I definitely won’t go,” Domingo told New Age in a telephone interview.
“I think we can only discuss the matter once the decision is made. We need to discuss with the cricket board and the board will decide what will happen next. “I think some guys are not keen to go. But if we have to then I am going.” Bangladesh are scheduled to tour Pakistan for three T20Is and two Tests later this month.
However, there is uncertainty surrounding the tour, with the BCB president Nazmul Hassan saying there were some among the party unsure of touring Pakistan.
However, while Bangladesh are willing to play the Twenty20 series, they are hesitant about playing the Test series in Pakistan due to the security situation there and the fact that many players don’t want to stay in the country for so long.
But last Thursday, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan revealed that many star players are refusing to play the Twenty20 series in Pakistan, which has put the entire tour in doubt.
Test cricket returned to Pakistan after 10 years, with Sri Lanka's visit in late 2019Test cricket returned to Pakistan after 10 years, with Sri Lanka's visit in late 2019
The BCB had suggested hosting the T20Is in Pakistan, while moving the Tests to a neutral venue. However, the PCB are insistent on holding the Tests in Pakistan, following their successful hosting of Sri Lanka for a two-match series last month.
The Sri Lanka Test series was the first in Pakistan in over a decade, and the PCB are keen to build on that and ensure a full return of international cricket to Pakistan.
