Will Bangladesh cancel Pakistan tour? BCB in tense talks with PCB

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is treading on thin ice while considering the risk of their upcoming white-ball tour of Pakistan, which commences on May 21, 2025. The tour includes five T20 matches in Faisalabad and Lahore under a cloud, given rising tensions between India and Pakistan that have already led to cancellations of the IPL and PSL. With the world of cricket on tenterhooks, the BCB is in continuous discussions with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to gauge the situation, leaving fans such as myself pondering if the tour is set to go through.

Safety of players is at the forefront of the BCB's minds, and they're not leaving anything to chance. In a recent statement, the board made it clear: “Every decision about this tour will be made after fully assessing the situation in Pakistan. We will do what is best for our team and for Bangladesh cricket.” The geopolitical instability, accentuated by India's Operation Sindoor and a recent drone attack close to Rawalpindi, has placed global cricket in the region on unstable footing, and the BCB is not inclined to jeopardize their team's health in an unstable environment.

Before heading to Pakistan, Bangladesh is gearing up for a brief stop in the UAE, where they’ll face the United Arab Emirates in two T20Is on May 17 and 19 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. This series is a crucial part of their preparation for the Pakistan tour—if it happens. With an international-packed calendar on their schedule, culminating in the impending 2026 T20 World Cup, the BCB has its priority in getting players match-fit, prioritizing safety second.

PSL Fallout and Bangladesh's Next Steps

The suspension of PSL 2025 has already impacted Bangladesh players, with Rishad Hossain of Lahore Qalandars and Nishad Rana of Peshawar Zalmi returning to Dhaka after the league was halted on May 9. Both players, who are both key components of the Bangladesh T20 setup, are going to arrive with the national team for their tour of UAE on Wednesday and will now shift their attention to international affairs.

Also Read: Will PSL 2025 restart? Foreign players refuse to return; no one wants to play in Pakistan

The BCB is obviously prioritizing the safety of their players and getting them set for their series in the UAE and possible tour of Pakistan. With tensions boiling over, the cricketing fraternity waits to see if Bangladesh will turn out in Pakistan—or if this tour is another victim of geopolitical tensions.