Bangladesh tour of Pakistan | Nahid Rana pulls out of Bangladesh squad owing security reasons

‌Bangladesh pacer Nahid Rana has pulled out of the team’s three-match T20I series in Pakistan that is set to start on May 28 in Lahore. The seamer will be joined by fielding coach James Pamment and strength and conditioning coach Nathan Keily, who have also decided not to travel with the side.

The withdrawal of Nahid, as per Bangladesh Cricket Board’s cricket operations chairman Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, may have come on the back of the pacer’s difficulty in getting out of Pakistan after cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan led to the suspension of both countries' T20 leagues. Nahid was part of the Peshawar Zalmi side that played in the Pakistan Super League.

“What Nahid Rana and Rishad faced recently, you can't blame them for being traumatised. Which is probably why Rana has withdrawn from the tour. Among the coaching staff, James and Nathan , who are our fielding coach and trainer, aren't going. The rest are ready to go there," Fahim said.

However, Rishad Hossain, who also played in the Pakistan Super League, will travel with the side for the series.

"There were hesitations among a few other players. But later, when they saw others were going, they felt that it might not be difficult to go there and they changed their initial position."

Fahim also said that the Pakistan Cricket Board has provided assurance on giving the highest security for their players during the tour which will have all the matches being played at Lahore. The series, which was initially a five-match duel has been reduced to three matches, will start on May 28 with the second and third T20I scheduled on May 30 and 31.

“I saw during the Champions Trophy how much security is provided in Pakistan. I don't think you can do more than that. The PCB chairman (Mohsin Naqvi) assured us to give the highest security," he concluded.