Participation of Bangladeshi players in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will now depend on government approval. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has made this decision in view of regional tensions.
Earlier, the board had issued NOCs to six players. These include Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossain Emon (Lahore Qalandars), Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, and Rishad Hossain (Peshawar Zalmi).
PSL is scheduled to be played from March 26 to May 3, but now players will need to obtain government approval before going to Pakistan.
Player Safety Concerns Rise Amid Tensions at Afghanistan-Pakistan Border, Says BCB Official
The reason for the tension at the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, according to Bangladesh Cricket Board’s Cricket Operations Chairman Najmul Abedin, is that the current situation is not normal. Due to increasing tensions at the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, there is a risk regarding the players’ safety.
He said, “Normally, we don’t need to consult the government. We issue the NOC, the players go and play, and then return. But the situation is different right now, so we will discuss it with the government.”
Najmul Abedin further said that the government will decide whether it is safe to go to Pakistan or not. He added that it is not possible for the board to fully understand the ground reality there; this is the government’s responsibility. He said, “The government will have better information about the security situation there.”
He added, “Players will only go if the government gives us the green light and says that traveling is safe. In principle, we have decided to issue the NOC, but everything will depend on the situation at that time.”
Players will Miss the Camp for the New Zealand Series
If government approval is granted, the six players participating in the PSL will not be able to take part in the preparation camp for the upcoming home series against New Zealand.
The New Zealand team is arriving in Bangladesh on April 13 for a tour, where they will play 3 ODIs and 3 T20 matches. The ODI series will start on April 17, while the T20 series will be played between April 27 and May 2.
Considering World Cup qualification, the BCB has issued a partial NOC to the players so that they remain available for the ODI series against New Zealand. Bangladesh is currently ranked ninth in the ICC ODI rankings and is aiming to qualify directly for next year’s ODI World Cup. After defeating Pakistan 2-1, Bangladesh is now focused on securing wins against New Zealand to improve its ranking.
