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 to export halal meat worth $14.5 million to Tajikistan
- Effective trade facilitation can increase bilateral Pakistan-Tajikistan trade to $300 million, says state media
- PM Shehbaz Sharif approved Pakistan’s halal meat policy earlier this month in bid to boost meat exports
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will export 143,000 tons of halal meat to Tajikistan worth $14.5 million in the near future, state media reported on Tuesday amid Islamabad’s efforts to bolster trade with Central Asian countries.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, earlier this month, approved Pakistan’s halal meat policy that aims to boost Islamabad’s meat exports to Muslim states.
In a high-level meeting on Dec. 24, Federal Minister for Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain said Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Iran and other Gulf countries are ready to import Pakistani fresh meat and rice. The minister said Tajikistan has expressed the demand to import nearly 100,000 tons of meat from Pakistan.
“According to details, Pakistan will export one hundred and forty-three thousand tons of halal meat to Tajikistan, valued at 14.5 million dollars,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
It did not, however, specify a timeline as to when Islamabad planned to export the halal meat items to the Central Asian nation.
The state media said that effective trade facilitation will increase bilateral trade between Pakistan and Tajikistan to $300 million, strengthening regional economic integration.
Pakistan has recently attempted to increase its halal meat exports to other Muslim countries such as Malaysia. Both countries announced they had agreed to a $200 million halal meat trade quota during Sharif’s visit to Malaysia in October.
A 2024 report by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) mentioned that the country exported meat worth $512 million in 2024, which included beef, mutton and poultry.
According to the PBS, the UAE remained Pakistan’s top meat export market in 2024 with exports to the Gulf nation reaching $201 million. Meanwhile, meat exports to Saudi Arabia recorded a growth of 65.1 percent last year valued at $141 million.
