Bangladesh agree to send cricket team to Pakistan after 3 years

Most cricket nations have steered clear of Pakistan since gunmen attacked Sri Lanka's team bus in 2009, killing several people. But international cricket is slowly returning, with Zimbabwe and the West Indies among countries to visit Pakistan in recent years

For the first time in three years, Bangladesh is set to send a cricket squad to Pakistan for an Asian Cricket Council tournament next month. The Bangladesh Cricket Board takes this massive decision after receiving assurances from their counterparts about security. The tournament will be jointly hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka where Bangladesh is slated to play all their group matches in Karachi.

The Bangladesh squad being sent for the Emerging Teams Asia Cup starting December 6 is the first since 2015 to visit Pakistan.

“We agreed to the tour following assurance of adequate security by the Pakistan Cricket Board,” said Bangladesh Cricket Board boss Nizamuddin Chowdhury.

The board would also send a security detail with the squad, he added. Bangladesh are in Group B alongside hosts Pakistan, Hong Kong and the UAE. Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, India and Oman in Group A will play their matches in Colombo, which will also host the semis and final.

Squad:

Nurul Hasan (Capt), Mosaddek Hossain, Nazmul Hossain, Mizanur Rahman, Shafiul Islam, Zakir Hasan, Saif Hassan, Yasir Ali, Tanvir Islam, Afif Hossain, Nayeem Hasan, Shoriful Islam, Qazi Onik, Khaled Ahmed, Mohor Sheikh

Most cricket nations have steered clear of Pakistan since gunmen attacked Sri Lanka's team bus in 2009, killing several people. But international cricket is slowly returning, with Zimbabwe and the West Indies among countries to visit Pakistan in recent years.