Nahid Rana Withdraws from BAN vs PAK T20 Over Security.

Bangladesh pacer Nahid Rana has pulled out of the three T20 tour of Pakistan series set to happen on 28 May in Lahore. Along with Nahid Rana, two of the support staff from Bangladesh – fielding coach James Pammet and strength and conditioning coach Nathan Kaily are refusing the tour.

Nahid’s decision comes after the escalated political climate between India and Pakistan. The Bangladesh Cricket Board Chairman Nazmul Abedeen Fahim states that the player’s withdrawal might have been an aftermath of the pacer’s difficulty from getting out of Pakistan during the cross- border conflict that affected air travel.

🔴 Nahid Rana will not travel to Pakistan for the 3-match T20 series.#PAKvBAN pic.twitter.com/edtXpVaDZe
— Afrid Mahmud Rifat 🇧🇩 (@rifat0015) May 21, 2025

Both the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and the Indian Premier League (IPL) were suspended and Nahid was playing for the Peshawar Zalmi team in PSL. Rana’s Bangladesh teammate Rishad Hossain who also played in the PSL will be returning to the series.

“What Nahid Rana and Rishad faced recently, you can’t blame them for being traumatised. Which is probably why Rana has withdrawn from the tour. Among the coaching staff, James and Nathan , who are our fielding coach and trainer, aren’t going. The rest are ready to go there,” BCB Chairman Fahim said.

#Bangladesh pacer Nahid Rana, fielding coach James Pamment and trainer Nathan Keily have withdrawn their names from the upcoming #Pakistan tour.#Cricket https://t.co/decznqtinK
— The Daily Star (@dailystarnews) May 21, 2025

While the Bangladesh side were hesitant on going through the series with reluctance, many players stepped up leading the bunch to travel to their neighboring country. Chairman Fahim also said that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have assured the player’s safety for the three games, all of which will be played in Lahore.

Convinced by the talks with PCB, “I saw during the Champions Trophy how much security is provided in Pakistan. I don’t think you can do more than that. The PCB chairman (Mohsin Naqvi) assured us to give the highest security,” Fahim concluded. The series was supposed to be a five match series, but has now been reduced to three with the first T20 match scheduled on 28 May, the second and third on 30 and 31, respectively.

V Kumar

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