After Pakistan cricket team has departed for West Indies on Tuesday (March 21) to play four Twenty20 Internationals, three One-day Internationals and three-match Test series, the latest development revealed Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has invited Bangladesh for two-match Twenty20 series in May.
The reports suggested PCB initiated the talks last month with Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), in a bid to revive the international cricket in Pakistan. It further revealed Pakistan wanted Bangladesh to tour in May before they will be touring to Bangladesh in July.
“The PCB has told BCB [Bangladesh Cricket Board] to honour the commitment of a reciprocal series, as Pakistan has already toured Bangladesh twice in the last few years and has another tour planned for July 2017,” Geo TV quoted one of the concerned officials.
The PCB board is itching to conduct the series at home to further set a tune for the foreign teams to enter Pakistan for the regular international fixtures.
It becomes pertinent here that Pakistan has successfully hosted the final of second edition of the Pakistan Super League on March 5 at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore where Peshawar Zalmi emerged as winner.
In the recently concluded PSL final between Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi, the security has impressed many foreign players who were participating in the event after several players were reluctant to visit Pakistan.
On the other hand, in the recent past many years PCB has invited several international teams. However, they had last played their international match against Zimbabwe before hosting the matches of Kenya and Afghanistan.
The reports stated the West Indies and Ireland were ready to visit Pakistan, but at the last minute both teams had pulled off due to ‘bomb blasts’. However, it has been stated both the teams had withdrawn the idea following the security measures in the country.
Pakistan is yet to host a Test match since 2009 when Sri Lankan team bus came under gruesome attack when they were on the way to Gaddafi Stadium for the third day’s play of the second Test match which was called-off (drawn).