PCB responds to BCB's request for security consultant for Pakistan tour

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has addressed reports concerning the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) seeking a security consultant for their forthcoming Test tour of Pakistan.

Bangladeshi media reported earlier today that the BCB has approached their federal government to provide a security consultant for the tour.

"Look providing safety is up to them (Pakistan) and we go there because they assure us to provide state-level security and after they assured us about it, the tour was fixed," BCB cricket operation chairman Jalal Yunus told reporters on Wednesday.

“At the same time we have requested the government to give us a security consultant during the tour who will maintain communication with them at all times regarding the security issues,” he said.

A PCB spokesperson in Lahore affirmed the BCB's right to have a security consultant, noting that the visiting team has not raised any security concerns.

“Security managers or consultants are now considered part of the player support personnel just like a media manager or a team doctor. Even at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and other bilateral series, teams have traveled with security managers,” the PCB spokesperson said.

“If the Bangladesh Cricket Board wants to include a security consultant as part of their team management for the upcoming Test tour, then it is their prerogative. But as on now, the BCB have not expressed any security concerns with the PCB.

“In fact, and as part of international norm, the PCB shared the security plan along with the MoU with the BCB last month and received no queries or additional requests.”

The Bangladesh cricket team is scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on August 17, with the first Test match set to commence on August 21.

The second match of the series will take place from August 30 to September 3. This series is part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-2025.