Bangladesh tour of Pakistan

The Bangladesh T20I captain has convinced his family, who had reservations about him traveling to Pakistan © Getty

Bangladesh T20I captain Mahmudullah communicated his family's reservations about touring Pakistan, after Bangladesh's regular wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim made himself unavailable to travel to Pakistan, citing security concerns.

Bangladesh Cricket Board and Pakistan Cricket Board recently announced that the series against Pakistan will take place in three phases: three T20Is in January, one Test in February, and an ODI and a Test in April.

The series was initially slated in January-February that included two Tests and three T20Is but Bangladesh were against a transit that would require them to stay in Pakistan for more than seven days. Another itinerary was prepared after the intervention of ICC president Shashank Manohar.

Bangladesh will play the opening phase of the three-phase tour by taking part in the three-match T20I series, scheduled from January 24-27.

''It was definitely tough [the decision to tour Pakistan] initially because there were (security) concerns from my family,'' Bangladesh T20 skipper Mahmudullah told correspondents at the pre-series media briefing at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Tuesday. The Bangladesh team is set to leave for Pakistan on Wednesday (January 22).

''I have discussed with my family and I am quite relieved that my family is at peace [about touring Pakistan],'' he said. Mahmudullah also focused on that his teammates had phased the security concerns out and were completely focused on the game: ''Pakistan is providing us with the most ideal security arrangements. The individuals from the squad are not worried about security at all. We are only thinking about our game; how to perform well and win.'' said a zealous-looking Mahmudullah.

The rankings bay: Pakistan 1, Bangladesh 9

Mahmudullah disregarded the bay in the rankings, and insisted that if Bangladesh played to their maximum capacity, they were more than capable of beating Pakistan, adding that their opponents are formidable despite their poor late record in the format.

''Rankings are immaterial. We are nine and they are at one (because) they have been playing T20Is consistently. The way we have played in last couple of series, I am extremely confident that we will have the option to play some great matches.'' said Mahmudullah. "Pakistan might have played bad in last couple of series but I think they are exceptionally strong team in T20 and we will play in their home conditions.'

Bigger lumps of responsibility

The T20I skipper further elaborated that he is confident about his squad and added that he, along with Tamim Iqbal, is aware that they will have to take heft of responsibility, considering some senior individuals are missing the series.

''I and Tamim, we both personally feel that we will have more responsibility. Tamim's experience will be instrumental at the top of the request. He is in awesome form and scored a great deal of runs in the BPL. I will attempt personally to fulfill my responsibilities - the responsibility that I have to stay on the pitch till the end, I will attempt to do accomplish that.

Bangladesh minus a left-arm spinner

Mahmudullah added that he is confident with his five-man pace attack and added that if they have great varieties in pace department it is not necessary to have spinners.

Bangladesh team management decided not to include any left-arm spinner in their 15-part squad, which is a surprise to say the least considering their reliance on left-arm spinners throughout the years.

''I am confident that they (the pacers) will have the option to deliver and I am not thinking whether I have legitimate spinners or not. This time our pace bowling side is really experienced and I have put my trust on them."

Mahmudullah: Long-term captain?

With regard to long-term captaincy, Mahmudullah added that it will help him plan ahead, but added that now he is currently focused only on the next series. Bangladesh coach Russell Domingo has backed Mahmudullah to lead the side in the next ICC World Twenty20, scheduled in Australia from September 2020.

''I don't know yet (about my captaincy status) as I am given the responsibility for this series. I will attempt to utilize the chance appropriately. The responsibility is developing further every series,'' said Mahmudullah, who replaced Shakib al Hasan as the T20I skipper during the last tour of India, after the latter was slapped with a ban from the ICC for failing to report degenerate approaches.

''If he [Domingo] has the faith in me, then I am thankful and I think Russel is an experienced coach and he knows how to handle all the players of the team.

''If the responsibility is given on full-term basis, then I definitely think it will be helpful for planning. It is totally the board's decision. As of now, I am given the I am only focused on the next series,'' the Bangladesh captain concluded

 Pakistan PLAYER    ROLE
Babar Azam (c)    Batsman
Ahsan Ali     
Amad Butt     Bowling allrounder
Haris Rauf     
Iftikhar Ahmed     Middle-order batsman
Imad Wasim     Allrounder
Khushdil Shah     Middle-order batsman
Mohammad Hafeez     Allrounder
Mohammad Hasnain     Bowler
Mohammad Rizwan †    Batsman
Muhammad Musa     Bowler
Shadab Khan     Allrounder
Shaheen Afridi     Bowler
Shoaib Malik     Allrounder
Usman Qadir    
Bangladesh PLAYER    ROLE
Mahmudullah (c)    Allrounder
Afif Hossain     Allrounder
Al-Amin Hossain     Bowler
Aminul Islam     Allrounder
Hasan Mahmud     Bowler
Liton Das †    Wicketkeeper batsman
Mahedi Hasan     Top-order batsman
Mohammad Mithun     Top-order batsman
Mohammad Naim     Opening batsman
Mustafizur Rahman     Bowler
Najmul Hossain Shanto     Middle-order batsman
Rubel Hossain     Bowler
Shafiul Islam     Bowler
Soumya Sarkar     Middle-order batsman
Tamim Iqbal     Opening batsman
Match Details
Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Series
Bangladesh tour of Pakistan 2019/20
Match number
T20I no. 1032
Season
2019/20
Match days
24 January 2020 (20-over match)

Date Match Details Time
Jan 24, Fri
Pakistan vs Bangladesh, 1st T20I
Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
12:00 PM
09:00 AMGMT / 02:00 PM LOCAL

Jan 25, Sat
Pakistan vs Bangladesh, 2nd T20I
Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
12:00 PM
09:00 AMGMT / 02:00 PM LOCAL

Jan 27, Mon
Pakistan vs Bangladesh, 3rd T20I
Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
12:00 PM
09:00 AMGMT / 02:00 PM LOCAL

Feb 07, Fri - Feb 11, Tue
Pakistan vs Bangladesh, 1st Test
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
8:00 AM
05:00 AMGMT / 10:00 AM LOCAL

Apr 03, Fri
Pakistan vs Bangladesh, Only ODI
National Stadium, Karachi
11:00 AM
08:00 AMGMT / 01:00 PM LOCAL

Apr 05, Sun - Apr 09, Thu
Pakistan vs Bangladesh, 2nd Test
National Stadium, Karachi
8:00 AM
05:00 AMGMT / 10:00 AM LOCAL