Bangladesh Pacer and Coaching Staff Pull Out of Pakistan Tour Over Security Concerns

Bangladesh pacer Nahid Rana has pulled out of the upcoming T20I tour of Pakistan, citing trauma caused by the recent cross-border tension between India and Pakistan. The tour is set to begin next week at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, with the first of the three T20Is scheduled for May 28.

Nahid Rana Disturbed by Earlier Experience in Pakistan

Nahid Rana was previously part of Peshawar Zalmi during the Pakistan Super League. When the tournament was abruptly affected due to political and security issues, players had to leave in a hurry.

According to Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s cricket operations chairman, Rana was deeply disturbed by that experience.

“What Nahid Rana and Rishad faced recently, you can’t blame them for being traumatised. That is probably why Rana has withdrawn,” Fahim told ESPNcricinfo.

Though Rana’s Zalmi teammate Rishad Hossain is travelling with the national team, Rana has opted out.

Coaches Also Opt Out; Others Initially Hesitant

Not just players, but two members of Bangladesh’s coaching staff — fielding coach James Pamment and trainer Nathan Keily — have also chosen to skip the tour. Fahim shared that many players were hesitant in the beginning.

However, once they saw their teammates agreeing to go, they changed their minds and agreed to travel.

Bangladesh Tour Schedule

The tour was earlier planned as a five-match T20I series but has now been reduced to three matches.

• 1st T20I – May 28
• 2nd T20I – May 30
• 3rd T20I – June 1

The matches will be played at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.