|| CF DESK ||

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that the Bangladesh men’s cricket team will arrive in Pakistan earlier than initially planned to prepare for the two ICC World Test Championship matches in Rawalpindi and Karachi, scheduled for August 21-25 and August 30-September 3, respectively.

Initially set to arrive in Islamabad on August 17, the Bangladesh team will now land in Lahore on the morning of August 13. They will conduct training sessions at Gaddafi Stadium from August 14-16 before traveling to Islamabad on August 17. In Islamabad, they will hold practice sessions at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from August 18-20.

The PCB extended an invitation to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to allow the team to arrive earlier, ensuring they have ample and fair preparation time for the upcoming ICC World Test Championship fixtures.

“Sports is not only about winning and losing, it’s also about comradery. I remain confident that the extra training sessions in Lahore will allow the players to showcase their best skills and talent on the global stage,” PCB Chief Operating Officer Salman Naseer said.

“We are delighted that the BCB have accepted our offer and we look forward to welcoming the Bangladesh men’s cricket team in Lahore on 13 August with our traditional hospitality. This will allow them to have three additional days of training and practice at one of our iconic venues before proceeding to Islamabad as originally planned” He added.

“We thank the PCB for giving the Bangladesh cricket team the opportunity to have additional training in Pakistan. This will certainly help the players to acclimate to the conditions and prepare better for the ICC World Test Championship series.” BCB Chief Executive Nizam Uddin Chowdhury said.

This will be Bangladesh’s first tour of Pakistan since 2020 when they played three T20Is in Lahore and one-off Test in Rawalpindi. Bangladesh also played two ACC Asia Cup 2023 matches in Lahore against Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Bangladesh is one of the seven sides that will feature in next year’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan. Other six sides are: Afghanistan, Australia, England, India, New Zealand and South Africa.

The PCB will provide further details regarding Bangladesh’s training, practice sessions, and media opportunities in due course.