BCB to seek government clearance for players' PSL participation

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) stated that the participation of Bangladeshi cricketers in the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) will require government approval due to the current tensions in the region. Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossain Emon (Lahore Qalandars), Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana, Tanzid Hasan Tamim (Peshawar Zalmi), and Rishad Hossain (Peshawar Zalmi) were the six players who had previously received No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the BCB after being selected by franchises for the tournament, which was scheduled to take place from March However, as a result of tensions along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, the board has decided to seek approval from the government before allowing them to travel. "Of course, we will seek permission from the government before sending our cricketers for the PSL. In most situations, you don't need these things. They leave, play, and then come back after we give clearance. However, because the situation is unusual and poses a threat to the players, we will undoubtedly discuss it with the government. He stated, "We will have to take the ultimate decision on whether the players will go or not" based on the government's decision, "We will seek to know from the government whether it will be safe to travel or not." "Because we are actually unable to comprehend the situation there." The government may be aware of this. The government will be aware, and the players will travel if the government confirms that it is safe to do so. However, in principle, we have decided to grant the NOC and allow them to play. However, it depends on the circumstances at the time," Nazmul continued. If the players receive approval from the government, it is understood that they will miss the training camp for the upcoming white-ball series against New Zealand, which is scheduled for the last week of March. New Zealand are set to arrive on April 13 for three ODIs and three T20Is in Dhaka and Chattogram. The ODIs will be played on April 17, 20 and 23, followed by T20Is on April 27, 29 and May 2. Bangladesh is still in contention for qualification for the ICC ODI World Cup next year, so the BCB has issued partial NOCs to ensure that the majority of the players will be available for the ODI series. After beating Pakistan 2-1 in the series, Bangladesh moved up to ninth in the ICC ODI rankings. While a 3-0 victory over New Zealand would not improve their standing, it would help them catch up to eighth-place England, who currently hold a nine-point rating advantage over them. An NOC has been issued to Mustafizur from March 26 to April 12, as well as from April 24 to May 3. He will be available for the ODIs but will miss the T20Is. For both formats, Tanzid, Shoriful, Rana, and Rishad have been granted NOCs until April 12. Parvez Hossain, meanwhile, has received clearance until April 21 and remains part of the T20I set-up only.