Pakistan call off Bangladesh tour scheduled for July

Karachi [Pakistan], Apr 27 (ANI): Pakistan have cancelled their scheduled tour to Bangladesh later this year with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan stating that the decision was taken after mutual consent of both the cricket boards. Pakistan was scheduled to play two Tests, three ODIs and a T20I series on their tour to Bangladesh in July and August. "We had spoken about the possibility of hosting them [Bangladesh in Pakistan] this year," Khan was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo. "Pakistan have now toured Bangladesh twice without them reciprocating, and we feel we cannot tour Bangladesh for the third straight time. Therefore, we have decided to postpone the tour, and will explore another window in the next year or so," he added. Bangladesh last toured Pakistan in 2007-08. Since then, Pakistan have toured Bangladesh twice, in 2011-12 and 2015. The PCB had invited Bangladesh for a two-match T20I series this year, only for the BCB to rebuff the invitation. On their last visit to Bangladesh in 2015, the PCB had reportedly taken 325,000 dollars and justified it by saying that the series had "technically" been Pakistan's home series. This year, the BCB has rejected all proposals to share revenue although they were open to playing at a neutral venue if needed. It should be noted that Pakistan have not hosted any international cricket tournaments since the terror attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in 2009, when six Pakistani policemen were killed and some of the visiting players were injured. (ANI)