BCB chief shares key update on Pakistan’s upcoming tour of Bangladesh

The Chairman of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), Faruque Ahmed, has shared a significant update on Pakistan's tour of Bangladesh, confirming plans for a white-ball series in mid-2025.

According to Ahmed, Pakistan is expected to visit Bangladesh for a short white-ball series in July and August 2025. This series will take place outside the ICC’s Future Tours Programme (FTP).

“Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has informed us that they will tour Bangladesh outside the FTP. A short tour in July has mostly been confirmed, and we will provide final details once everything is settled,” Ahmed said.

Bangladesh is already scheduled to tour Pakistan in May 2025 for three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and three T20 Internationals (T20Is) under the FTP. However, following recent talks between BCB Chairman Faruque Ahmed and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi during the ICC Champions Trophy, the two boards agreed on an additional tour for the following summer.

In addition to the upcoming tours, Ahmed also suggested that Bangladesh could take part in a tri-series hosted by Pakistan in the future, if the schedule permits.

After Bangladesh’s early exit from the ICC Champions Trophy, the BCB chairman highlighted that the focus would now shift towards preparing for the 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. 

“The board will soon outline its policy for the 2027 World Cup. I believe someone like Najmul Abedin Faheem, who has a lot of experience, is a great choice to lead the operations committee,” said Ahmed. 

“We will discuss how to move forward with Bangladesh cricket,” he added. 

Additionally, Bangladesh faces important decisions regarding its T20I leadership after Najmul Hossain Shanto stepped down as captain in January. Ahmed hinted that the next captain would likely come from players who have previously led the team, with Litton Das being a strong contender.

“We are aiming to appoint a new captain from those who have captained before. A decision will be made soon and will be announced in due course,” he added.

Meanwhile, the BCB is planning a special farewell event for veteran cricketer Mushfiqur Rahim, who recently announced his retirement from One-Day International cricket.

“We will arrange a fitting farewell for Mushfiqur Rahim, who has been one of the legends of Bangladesh cricket,” said Faruque. 

“He has played a crucial role in shaping Bangladesh cricket over the last 19 years. I still remember his early days in 2005 and his vital contributions in the 2007 World Cup. His journey serves as an inspiration for the younger generation,” he concluded.