Pakistan Cannot Tour Bangladesh For The Third Straight Time Without Them Reciprocating, PCB Chairman Shahryr Khan
Apr 27, 2017 at 1:56 PM
Miffed with Bangladesh Cricket Boards neglect, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shahryar Khan has informed that Pakistan’s scheduled tour of Bangladesh in July-August this year, has been scrapped.
The tour which consisted of two Tests, three ODIs and a T20I will not go ahead as the PCB chairman feels that BCB has not sent their team for ‘return’ tours for the third time. Pakistan has toured Bangladesh two times between 2013 and 2015.
Most recently, BCB turned down their counterparts’ offer for a two-match T20I series in Pakistan this year. This is the third straight time Bangladesh has shown an unwillingness to travel to Pakistan. Thus the strong reaction from Khan.
“We had spoken about the possibility of hosting them [Bangladesh in Pakistan] this year,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Khan as saying.
“Pakistan have now toured Bangladesh twice without them reciprocating, and we feel we cannot tour Bangladesh for the third straight time. Therefore, we have decided to postpone the tour, and will explore another window in the next year or so.”
Bangladesh last toured Pakistan in 2007-08 during the Asia Cup. Only Bangladesh’ Women team has come to Pakistan in recent times. The national women’s team toured in September-October 2015.
The bone of contention between both the boards is the revenue sharing model. The PCB has been quite bullish about the revenue system between both the parties. They had reportedly taken USD 325,000 from Bangladesh after the 2015 series between the sides in Bangladesh, stating that it was ‘technically’ Pakistan’s home series.
Perhaps this might be the reason behind BCB refusing to for the tour which was scheduled to start in July. However, while BCB rejected all such proposals to share revenue, they said they are open to playing at a neutral venue like UAE which has been Pakistan’s neutral ‘home’ side since the 2009 Terrorist attack on Sri Lankan Team bus.
Pakistan has not seen much international cricket, barring a brief tour by Zimbabwe, since the Sri Lanka cricket team’s bus came under attack from armed militants at the Gaddafi stadium. However, the emergence of the Pakistan Super League has brought bright hopes in the minds of the cricket fans in Pakistan.
PCB has been trying very hard to bring back normal cricket back to Pakistan. It has tried roping in international cricketer to play in the country in exchange for hefty paychecks. The move has partially worked and has infused a sense of optimism among the home fans.