KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Saturday Bangladesh men’s cricket team will arrive in the country ahead of schedule to acclimatize and get extra practice sessions before the two ICC World Test Championship fixtures in Rawalpindi and Karachi between August 21 and September 3.
The Bangladesh squad was originally scheduled to arrive in Islamabad on August 17 and hold practice sessions in Rawalpindi from August 18 to 20. However, it will now train at the Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore from August 14 to 16 before traveling to Pakistan’s federal capital and then following the previously determined schedule.
While the PCB did not provide an explanation for the change in plans, Bangladesh has witnessed weeks of political violence and unrest, leading to the downfall of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajid’s government and the establishment of a caretaker setup.
The events of the last few weeks have also disrupted normal life and sporting activities in that country, seemingly impacting the Bangladesh men’s cricket team’s preparations as well.
“Sports is not only about winning and losing, it’s also about comradery,” PCB Chief Operating Officer Salman Naseer said in a statement. “I remain confident that the extra training sessions in Lahore will allow the [Bangladeshi] players to showcase their best skills and talent on the global stage.”
Naseer said the PCB was delighted Bangladesh had accepted its offer to send its players early in Pakistan.
“We look forward to welcoming the Bangladesh men’s cricket team in Lahore on 13 August with our traditional hospitality,” he continued. “This will allow them to have three additional days of training and practice at one of our iconic venues before proceeding to Islamabad as originally planned.”
Bangladesh Cricket Board Chief Executive Nizam Uddin Chowdhury also expressed gratitude to Pakistan for its offer.
“We thank the PCB for giving the Bangladesh cricket team the opportunity to have additional training in Pakistan,” he said. “This will certainly help the players to acclimate to the conditions and prepare better for the ICC World Test Championship series.”
This will be Bangladesh’s first tour of Pakistan since 2020 when they played three T20Is in Lahore and a one-off Test in Rawalpindi.
Bangladesh also played two ACC Asia Cup 2023 matches in Lahore against Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The team is one of the seven sides that will compete in next year’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan, alongside Afghanistan, Australia, England, India, New Zealand and South Africa.
Bangladesh cricket team to arrive early in Pakistan amid political unrest at home
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Bangladesh cricket team to arrive early in Pakistan amid political unrest at home
- The team will land in Lahore four days ahead of schedule next week on August 13
- Bangladesh players will get more practice sessions in Pakistan before two ICC Tests
Pakistan PM orders safeguards for legitimate travelers amid airport off-loading complaints
- Over 66,000 passengers were off-loaded this year by Pakistani authorities as part of a crackdown on illegal migration
- Instruction comes a day after Greece rescued about 540 illegal migrants at sea, including several Pakistani nationals
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday acknowledged complaints over passenger off-loading at airports and ordered safeguards for legitimate travelers, as he chaired a meeting on human smuggling a day after Greece rescued hundreds of migrants, including Pakistanis, at sea.
Earlier this week, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) said in a briefing to a parliamentary committee that more than 66,000 passengers had been off-loaded from Pakistani airports this year over suspected irregular travel, while tens of thousands were deported from Gulf states and other countries amid a broader crackdown on illegal migration.
The meeting chaired by Sharif reviewed enforcement measures aimed at curbing human smuggling and illegal immigration, with officials highlighting a 47 percent decline in illegal migration to Europe from the country following intensified screening at departure points.
“In taking action against those traveling illegally or holding suspicious travel documents, special care must be taken to ensure that passengers with valid documents are not affected,” the prime minister said, according to a statement issued by his office.
Sharif also ordered improvements in coordination between the FIA, the Protectorate of Emigrants and other agencies to facilitate Pakistanis traveling abroad legally for employment, while calling for stricter action against corrupt officials.
The meeting was also briefed about a growing reliance on technology by the immigration authorities to address weaknesses in the existing system. Authorities said work was under way to expand the use of electronic gates at airports, allowing automated identity verification to reduce discretionary checks.
Officials also said Pakistan was developing a mobile application to access passenger data and integrating advance passenger information and passenger name record (API-PNR) systems, enabling authorities to flag potentially fraudulent travel documents before departure.
Artificial intelligence tools are being introduced to support risk assessment and targeted screening, the statement added.
Pakistan intensified action against illegal migration in 2023 after hundreds of people, including its own nationals, died while attempting to cross the Mediterranean in an overcrowded fishing vessel that sank off the Greek coast, prompting widespread outrage and scrutiny of smuggling networks.
The meeting followed a Greek coast guard statement on Friday saying it rescued about 540 migrants from a fishing boat south of the island of Gavdos, transferring them to temporary facilities on Crete. Greek authorities said the group included nationals of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Egypt.
The latest rescue highlights how, despite tighter controls and airport screening at home, migrants continue to seek dangerous routes to Europe, largely driven by economic hardship and the promise of work in richer countries.
