Five Bangladeshi cricketers have been granted permission by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to participate in the forthcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL), with a sixth player possibly joining. However, in light of recent tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, BCB has decided to seek formal approval from the government before sending the players abroad, according to Najmul Abedin, Director of Cricket Operations.
Speaking yesterday, Abedin told the press, “We have requested government clearance. They have yet to provide a response. Normally, such permission is not required. However, given the current situation, it is prudent to verify whether there is any risk involved.”
The final decision regarding travel safety and city-specific restrictions will be determined once government approval is received. Currently, five players are confirmed to feature in this season’s PSL:
- Mustafizur Rahman
- Parvez Hossain
- Shariful Islam
- Nahid Rana
- Rishad Hossain
In addition, negotiations are ongoing between Peshawar Zalmi and opener Tanzid Hasan, although no formal clearance has yet been issued. It is important to note that none of the players have received full-season clearance. The PSL is scheduled from 26 March to 3 May.
At the same time, Bangladesh is preparing to host New Zealand for a series beginning 13 April, consisting of three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). The fixtures are as follows:
| Format | Dates |
|---|---|
| ODI | 17, 20, 23 April |
| T20I | 27, 29 April, 2 May |
Given the upcoming ODI World Cup, Bangladesh plans to field a strong squad in this series. To accommodate players’ participation in both the PSL and the international series, BCB has issued No Objection Certificates (NOCs) with staggered validity periods:
| Player | PSL NOC Validity |
|---|---|
| Mustafizur Rahman | 26 March – 12 April (Phase 1), returns 24 April |
| Parvez Hossain | 26 March – 21 April |
| Shariful Islam | 26 March – 12 April |
| Nahid Rana | 26 March – 12 April |
| Rishad Hossain | 26 March – 12 April |
| Tanzid Hasan | Negotiations ongoing, likely until 12 April |
This careful scheduling ensures that players can meet their commitments to both PSL franchises and the national team, while maintaining safety amid regional tensions. Officials emphasise that final participation will depend on government approval and ongoing monitoring of the situation in Pakistan.