|| CF Correspondent ||

Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hassan said on Saturday that he is hopeful that the Bangladesh team will get security clearance from the government to tour Pakistan next month for a series comprising three T20Is and two Tests.

The tour comprises of three T20Is, scheduled to be held in Lahore on January 23, 25 and 27, and two Tests, which are slated to be held in Rawalpindi and Karachi.

"We had written to the government about our security clearance for Pakistan," Hassan said. "We had sent a women's team and an Under-16 team previously. We don't have the clearance for the senior men's team yet. Security is paramount even if it is for an Under-12 side. It is going to be the same for everyone, which is why I believe that we are likely to get the security clearance,’’ Nazmul told reporters adding that few more steps needed to be taken before making the final call.

."The government had sent their security team, so once we get the clearance we can tell you our decision. After the security clearance, we also must ask the cricketers, whose opinion is important,’’ said Nazmul.

‘’We cannot force our players to go to Pakistan. If any player doesn't want to go, he will not go there. We will not pressurize anyone. The board will not pressurize any player to go to Pakistan. I don't think it's time to talk about the replacement team. It will depend on the situations,’’ he said.