Bangladesh star wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim has refused to tour Pakistan for the upcoming series despite the recent agreement between the PCB and the BCB, report agencies.
Mushfiqur Rahim, Bangladesh Cricket TeamBangladesh suffer major setback as Mushfiqur Rahim refuses to tour Pakistan for upcoming series Photo Credit: IANSKEY HIGHLIGHTS Mushfiqur Rahim has declined the offer to tour Pakistan in JanuaryRahim made a phone call to Bangladesh selector Minhajul Abedin to let him know that he has declined to tour PakistanRahim was a star turnout for the Bangladesh side during their tour to India last year
Bangladesh's wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim has turned down the proposal to represent his national side in Pakistan on Thursday. Thus, the premier wicketkeeper-batsman will not be part of the squad that will tour Pakistan this January. Rahim's unavailability for selection ahead of the Pakistan series was confirmed by Bangladesh chief selector Minhajul Abedin. The 28-year-old played a gem of an innings in India to help his side register an unprecedented triumph over 2007 T20I World Champions in their own backyard.
The Bangla Tigers are scheduled to play as many as three T20Is, two Test matches and one-off One-Day International (ODI) in Pakistan between January and April this year. His refusal to not travelling with his side to tour Pakistan has come days after Bangladesh finally accepted Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief executive Wasim Khan's proposal to tour the Asian nation.
Abedin revealed that Rahim made a phone call to let him know that he has declined to tour Pakistan although the apex cricket board in Bangladesh is still waiting for a formal letter delivered on behalf of the wicketkeeper-batsman. "Mushfiq(ur) rang me today to inform that he will not go to Pakistan. We are now waiting for his formal letter. Once he does that, we will leave him out of the series," chief selector Abedin told news agency AFP.
Mushfiqur declining to tour Pakistan will serve as a major blow to the visitors, who are already without the services of star all-rounder and former skipper Shakib Al Hasan. Abedin also asserted that the Asian giant-killers in major ICC events will announce their squad for the Pakistan tour latest by Saturday. International cricket made its return to Pakistan after the Green Army's disappointing show in the 50-over World Cup hosted by England and Wales. Sri Lanka became the first side in two years to tour Pakistan in 2019 last year.
The Islanders also returned for two-match Test series and Bangladesh are set to follow the suit but they will tour Pakistan in three legs.
