Bangladesh were slated to play an ODI and Test in Karachi against Pakistan in April but that has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo Credit: Getty Images)
New Delhi:
The Pakistan vs Bangladesh series, which was supposed to include one ODI and a Test in Karachi in April has now been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The decision was made in a joint meeting between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). Pakistan was supposed to host Bangladesh in an ODI in Karachi on April 1 followed by the Test match from April 5 to April 9 at the same venue. However, Karachi is the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic in Pakistan with close to 30 cases being reported. The Pakistan Super League games in Karachi have been played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic. The series between Pakistan and Bangladesh was split into two parts due to security concerns.
Bangladesh toured the country for three Twenty20 Internationals and a Test in Rawalpindi in January and February. Pakistan won the T20I series 2-0 with the final game getting abandoned while Pakistan won the Test in Rawalpindi by an innings and 44 runs thanks to centuries from Shan Masood and Babar Azam while Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Yasir Shah all chipped in with the ball.
The Pakistan Cricket team's international assignments have been postponed despite the PSL T20 tournament taking place. (Image credit: Getty Images)
Prior to the announcement, Waseem Khan, the Pakistan Cricket Board CEO had said, "I talked with Nizamuddin, (BCB's Chief executive) but he will first talk to his board and hopefully we will get some clarity in the next three days." BCB chief executive, Nizamuddin Chowdhury also confirmed, "They are yet to receive any word from their Pakistani counterparts regarding the fate of the series. Pakistan is hosting the series so they will take the decision (regarding the upcoming tour of Pakistan) as it is their call. Let's wait for their decision."
The ODI series between Australia and New Zealand was postponed due to the COVID-19 scare. The Coronavirus pandemic has absolutely devastated the sporting calendar. All major football tournaments, including the Serie A, La Liga, Bundesliga and Premier League have been postponed till April 3 while cricket is no exception. The Indian Premier League was postponed to April 15 while the India vs South Africa ODI series was rescheduled to a later date in the wake of the coronavirus. England's two-Test tour of Sri Lanka has also been postponed.
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The coronavirus has also cast a pall of gloom even in domestic cricket. The Plunket Shield in New Zealand was cancelled and Wellington were declared the winners while the final round of Australia's Sheffield Shield tournament has also been cancelled with a call on the final taken later. The BCCI has suspended the remainder of the Indian domestic cricket season over the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. This announcement has resulted in the Irani Trophy, which was to have been played between Saurashtra, the Ranji Trophy champions and Rest of India has now been suspended due to the coronavirus.
