Bangladesh May Cancel Pakistan Tour Amid Security Concerns Following Rawalpindi Drone Strike

The future T20I series between Pakistan and Bangladesh is at risk, now that security worries are increasing after a drone attack in the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which is keen on restarting the Pakistan Super League (PSL) from May 17, is getting flak for not laying more emphasis on international fixtures. So far, there is no confirmation from the officials of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) with the officials saying any decision to tour the country will be hinged on the assessments by Government and security organs. This new controversy is coming in at a time when Pakistan is already under a global cloud of doubt on their security ability.

Days after the resumption of the Pakistan Super League 2025, a drone strike took place at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, raising eyebrows in the cricketing world. This incident has brought a lot of doubts about the ability of Pakistan to host international cricket in a safe manner. Bangladesh, was later scheduled to tour Pakistan for a five-match T20I series and now is rethinking the touring. The same development is about to make Pakistan even more isolated in the world cricketing community.

Bangladesh Yet to Confirm Participation

Iftekhar Rahman, who leads the media committee at Bangladesh Cricket Board, explained that there is no final decision taken on the tour. He said that the BCB will only receive official tour details from the PCB and then request the government for a security clearance. “We will pass on the schedule to the government and only upon approvals from the foreign and the home ministries will a call be made,” Rahman told ESPNCricinfo.

There is growing criticism on the alleged preferences of the PCB in favour of the PSL in reference to international engagements. According to observers, the PCB is more concerned with finishing the domestic league as opposed to international concerns. This feeling has continued to cripple Pakistan’s credibility to host foreign teams, more so with the growing menace of threats.

The decision on the other hand belongs to the Bangladeshi government only and Rahman simply restates this fact. He recognized the previous security efforts of Pakistan and the explosive scenario and the need for conducting a new risk evaluation. The bottom line of the tour will ultimately boil down to whether or not Pakistan can demonstrably assure safety and stability in the days ahead.

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