Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has confirmed that five national cricketers have received clearance to participate in the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL), with the possibility of a sixth player joining. However, before departing for Pakistan, the players will seek formal approval from the government due to heightened security concerns following recent tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, BCB’s Director of Cricket Operations, Najmul Abedin, stated.
Speaking to the press, Abedin explained, “We have requested government approval. They have not yet responded. Under normal circumstances, such clearance would not be necessary. However, given the current situation, we needed to verify whether any risks exist before allowing players to travel.”
The final decision on whether it is safe for the players to travel, or if there are any restrictions on specific cities, will be determined once government approval is granted. So far, five Bangladeshi cricketers are confirmed to play in this season’s PSL:
- Mustafizur Rahman
- Parvez Hossain
- Shariful Islam
- Nahid Rana
- Rishad Hossain
Additionally, discussions are underway with Peshawar Zalmi regarding opener Tanzid Hasan, though no final agreement has been made. None of the players have received clearance for the full duration of the PSL, which runs from 26 March to 3 May.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh is preparing to host New Zealand for a series beginning 13 April, comprising three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 matches. The schedule is as follows:
| Format | Dates |
|---|---|
| ODI | 17, 20, 23 April |
| T20I | 27, 29 April, 2 May |
Given the challenge of securing a spot in the ODI World Cup, Bangladesh intends to field its strongest possible squad for this series. To accommodate the PSL commitments, the BCB has issued No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for the players in a staggered manner:
| Player | PSL NOC Validity |
|---|---|
| Mustafizur Rahman | 26 March – 12 April (Phase 1), returns 24 April |
| Parvez Hossain | 26 March – 21 April |
| Shariful Islam | 26 March – 12 April |
| Nahid Rana | 26 March – 12 April |
| Rishad Hossain | 26 March – 12 April |
| Tanzid Hasan | Negotiations ongoing, validity likely 12 April |
This arrangement allows the players to balance both domestic and international commitments, ensuring Bangladesh fields competitive teams in both the PSL and the New Zealand series.