Pak media urges PCB to let team play in Asia Cup, World T20 in 'troubled' Bangladesh

Pakistani media has urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to confirm their plans to play the team in Bangladesh in the upcoming Asia Cup and the World T20 events, despite the political unrest and the strained relations between the two nations.

Not too long ago, Bangladesh was considered a major ally of Pakistan, the cricket board provided all out support for induction of the Asian country among cricket's elite Test playing nations, although relations soured after Bangladesh lost to Pakistan in the 2012 Asia Cup in Dhaka.

According to the Express Tribune, despite the turmoil, the Asian Cricket Council, backed by the powerful Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced that the Asia Cup would go ahead as planned in Bangladesh and ICC has also announced elaborate plans for holding the World T20 as per schedule in Bangladesh.

The report mentioned that in the wake of the prevailing scenario, it would be prudent of Pakistan not to withdraw from the events as PCB has struggled to hold its own in ICC in recent years and it is an open secret that a Board that cannot even stage international cricket struggles to push for its demands.

The report also mentioned that as the present PCB is functional on a day to day basis under court orders so they have to weigh the pros and cons with care since whatever they decide will have an impact in the longer run, with financial loss being another aspect as PCB struggles to keep afloat with a lack of sustained income without global cricket.