Pakistan has expressed interest in hosting Bangladesh’s matches as the tigers may not travel to India for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup due to security concerns, according to a report by Pakistani media outlet Geo Super.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board has remained firm on its position that the national team will not play in India under the current circumstances. It is still unclear whether Bangladesh’s World Cup matches will be shifted to Sri Lanka.
Amid this uncertainty, the Pakistan Cricket Board has indicated its readiness to host those matches if relocation becomes necessary.
Security concerns had intensified after Kolkata Knight Riders dropped Bangladesh left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their squad, reportedly following directives from the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
The decision further fueled fears over player safety and raised doubts about Bangladesh’s participation in the tournament in India.
Following instructions from Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul, the BCB formally wrote to the International Cricket Council requesting that Bangladesh’s matches be moved out of India.
The ICC responded by seeking specific details regarding the security concerns. After further consultations with Asif Nazrul, the BCB, led by president Aminul Islam Bulbul, sent a second letter outlining the full scope of its concerns.
After receiving the follow-up communication, ICC Chairman Jay Shah decided to hold discussions with the BCCI in search of an acceptable solution.
In the meantime, a PCB source told Geo Super that Pakistan would be willing to host Bangladesh’s matches if Sri Lanka is unable to do so, claiming that all Pakistani venues are ready to stage World Cup fixtures.
However, the likelihood of Pakistan hosting Bangladesh’s matches remains slim. Sri Lanka is India’s co-host for the tournament, and if matches are moved from India, they are expected to be held only in Sri Lanka.
Additionally, due to political tensions, Pakistan is set to play its own matches in Sri Lanka rather than at home, further reducing the chances of Bangladesh playing in Pakistan.
Bangladesh are placed in Group C of the T20 World Cup alongside England, West Indies, Nepal and Italy. Three of their group matches are scheduled at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, with one match set for Mumbai. The tournament is due to begin on February 7, with the final of the 20-team competition scheduled for March 8.
