Won’t Play Tests In Pakistan, We Stand Firm On Our Ground: B’desh

Mumbai: Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has said that they “stand firm” on their decision to not play Test matches in Pakistan.

“We can play the T20Is but if we are to play Tests then it should be in a neutral venue,” said BCB chief executive. Pakistan was to host Bangladesh in January for three T20Is and two Tests.

The message was conveyed by BCB chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury on Tuesday.

His comments come a day after Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ehsan Mani asserted that there was “absolutely no doubt” they would play all home series in the country, going forward.

Nizamuddin was quoted by ‘The Daily Star’ as saying, “We stand firmly on our ground. We only want to play T20Is in Pakistan. The stakeholders related to the series do not want us to play cricket in Pakistan for long.”

“Actually, we don’t have any other option here. We can play T20 but if we have to play Tests then it should be in a neutral place.”

In an e-mail to the BCB, Mani asked the Bangladesh board to give “acceptable reasons” for refusing to send his team to Pakistan for the two Tests of the ICC World Test Championship to be held from 18 January.

Top officials of the Bangladesh board were quoted in the media this week as saying that they would not play the Test in Pakistan due to security concerns.

Mani also hinted that they could raise the matter with the International Cricket Council should Bangladesh refuse to play the Tests in Pakistan.

Pakistan was due to host Bangladesh in January for three T20 Internationals and two Tests.

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