The Bangladesh A team's departure for Pakistan has been delayed by at least 48 hours due to unavailable circumstances, a press release from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) stated on Tuesday.
The Bangladesh A Team was scheduled to leave for Pakistan on Tuesday to play two four-day and three one-day matches against Pakistan A, reports BSS.
The press release said that the BCB is in constant communication with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) regarding the A Team's tour.
"The BCB has confirmed to the PCB that their men's 'A' cricket team's departure for Islamabad has been delayed by 48 hours due to unforeseen circumstances," the PCB said in a statement on Monday.
"The BCB and PCB have been in regular contact for the past two days and will continue to work together on the revised tour itinerary with further details to follow in due course. The Bangladesh 'A' cricket team was due to arrive in Islamabad in the wee hours of Wednesday for two four-day and three 50-over matches from 10-27 August."
The Bangladesh senior team's departure for Pakistan is slotted for August 17 and, as things stand, there is no change in that.
The PCB has suggested to the BCB that the Bangladesh Test team be sent to Pakistan in advance so that they can train and practice in Rawalpindi before the Test series, which starts on August 21. The BCB has not responded to the PCB yet.
The UAE, India and Sri Lanka are on the shortlist to be back-up venues in case the ICC is forced to shift the women's T20 World Cup later this year out of Bangladesh.
The ten-team women's tournament is scheduled to be held from October 3-20 but the ICC has informally jotted down alternative venues.
An ICC official said on Monday that the situation in Bangladesh was being monitored and all options had been kept open. "The ICC is closely monitoring developments in coordination with the Bangladesh Cricket Board [BCB], their security agencies and our own independent security consultants," an ICC statement said. "Our priority is the safety and well-being of all participants."
The governments of at least three countries that will be part of the event - Australia, England and India - have issued travel advisories to their citizens against visiting Bangladesh.
ICC started working on options for the backup venue. While India and Sri Lanka are well equipped to host a multi-nation tournament on short notice, some questions remain. With Sri Lanka, there is a threat of rain in October, while with India, the issue of visas for the Pakistan team could be a hurdle.
Bangladesh has been rocked by anti-government agitations over the last few weeks, leading to several deaths. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and flew to India on Monday, with army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman assuming charge to establish an interim government.
Among the properties belonging to members of Hasina's Awami League party that were destroyed by the protestors was former Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Mortaza's residence in Narail, roughly 150 kilometres from Dhaka.
