Published on 05:20 AM, April 27, 2017

Pakistan won't tour Bangladesh this year, says PCB boss

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shahryar Khan has informed that Pakistan's scheduled tour of Bangladesh in July-August this year, consisting of two Tests, three ODIs and a T20I, is not going to go ahead.

Khan argued that as Pakistan had already completed two tours of Bangladesh, in 2013 and 2015, they are now unwilling to tour for the third time without Bangladesh reciprocating and sending their men's team to Pakistan. Pakistan has not seen much international cricket, barring a brief tour by Zimbabwe, since the Sri Lanka cricket team's bus came under attack from armed militants in 2009.

"We had spoken about the possibility of hosting them [Bangladesh in Pakistan] this year," ESPNCricinfo quoted Khan as saying. "Pakistan have now toured Bangladesh twice without them reciprocating, and we feel we cannot tour Bangladesh for the third straight time. Therefore, we have decided to postpone the tour, and will explore another window in the next year or so."

Bangladesh last played in Pakistan in 2008, when the country hosted the Asia Cup. However, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) turned down their counterparts' offer for a two-match T20I series in Pakistan this year.

Upon Pakistan's insistence that Bangladesh send their team on a tour, Bangladesh had eventually caved and sent their national women's team in September-October 2015.

The PCB had also reportedly taken USD 325,000 from Bangladesh after the 2015 series between the sides in Bangladesh, saying that it was 'technically' Pakistan's home series.

This year the BCB rejected all such proposals to share revenue and said that they were open to playing at a neutral venue, most likely in the UAE where Pakistan holds its home matches.