Nazmul called an urgent meeting Wednesday evening with the board directors and talked to the media after the meeting at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
“We were discussing the recent updates about the tour in today’s meeting. We have told Pakistan board that we are up for playing only the T20I series in Pakistan. But they are more interested in hosting us for the Tests as these matches are part of the World Test Championship. This is the last update about the series,” Nazmul told the media.
In their last response to BCB, Pakistan proposed Bangladesh to play Test series in Pakistan and think about the T20I series later. But the BCB didn’t respond to this proposal.
“They are more focused on the Test series. They proposed us today to play the Test series in Pakistan and reschedule the T20I series any time before the T20I World Cup this year. We didn’t respond to this proposal. We rather told them we will make a final decision tomorrow (Jan 9) as there is not much time before the tour,” Nazmul added.
“If we don’t go there to play the Test series, what will happen? This question was at the centre of contention in today’s meeting. So it is also an area of concern for us. We have to make the final decision taking all these under consideration,” he added.
Earlier, a close source of BCB high-officials told UNB that most of the players are reluctant to tour Pakistan. But BCB president said today that the players are agreed for the tour but for a shorter period of the time.
However most members of the coaching staff are not agreed for the entire tour except the head coach, Russell Domingo, who said he has no problem with the tour if the board allows the team.
Before the draft of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), which will be held entirely in Pakistan this year, many of the Bangladeshi cricketers made themselves for the draft. The board president was asked, if they don’t agree to tour Pakistan with the national team, how come they agree to play in PSL.
Nazmul said in reply to this question: “We didn’t get any notable reply of this question from the players. They might have given their name being unaware of their chances in the draft.”