[REPORTS] PCB rejects Bangladesh’s T20I tri-series proposal

[Ball Blazer]

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has turned down Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) proposal to hold a T20I tri-series in December, as per reports

The planned series was expected to include the Sri Lankan cricket team as well.

According to sources, the PCB declined the request due to concerns over player workload.

Several key Pakistani cricketers, including Shaheen Afridi and Babar Azam, have already committed to participating in the Big Bash League (BBL) in December.

The 15th edition of the BBL is scheduled to run from December 14, 2025, to January 25, 2026, featuring 44 matches in prime early-evening slots.

The tournament will open with a high-profile clash between two of the league’s most successful teams, the Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers, at Perth Stadium.

The fixture will mark Babar’s BBL debut for the Sixers.

Among other Pakistani players, Mohammad Rizwan joined Melbourne Renegades, Haris Rauf was retained by Melbourne Stars, Shadab Khan signed with Sydney Thunder, Hasan Ali was drafted by Adelaide Strikers and Hassan Khan will represent the Renegades.

Meanwhile, Pakistan is already set to host a T20I tri-series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe from November 17 to 29.

Zimbabwe will kick off their campaign against Pakistan in Rawalpindi on November 17, followed by a match against Sri Lanka on November 19.

The team will then move to Lahore for fixtures against Pakistan on November 23 and Sri Lanka on November 25. The top two teams from the round-robin stage will meet in the final at Gaddafi Stadium on November 29.

 

[Rana]

Load of Bollox!

So Babar is playing big bash that means we can’t play international T20 cricket???

Why are the PCB making him look so bloody important??? You don’t want anyone to take his spot and make it extremely difficult to not have to pick that guy over Babar??

 

[Rana]

Just play the T20 series! Get more and more games in before the World Cup!

Complete nonsense!

 

[Ball Blazer]

Load of Bollox!

So Babar is playing big bash that means we can’t play international T20 cricket???

Why are the PCB making him look so bloody important??? You don’t want anyone to take his spot and make it extremely difficult to not have to pick that guy over Babar??

A number of players are mentioned. Only Babar is not playing ...

 

[Rana]

A number of players are mentioned. Only Babar is not playing ...

Yeah I will choose to target his name only.

How dare they use Babar playing big bash as an excuse to not play T20i tri series in the lead up to the World Cup??

 

[Rana]

BCB officials: “hey PCB, let’s do a tri series with Sri Lanka in the lead up to the World Cup. It will be a great warm up between us!”

PCB: “sorry guys, our batter who is expected to bat at a sr of 80-110 and is a sitting duck against Hasaranga and Nasum Ahmed is not available as he’s playing BBL”

 

[Kianig89]

Definitely Babar is not the reason PCb declined, any cricket is good PCB should think about it with some fringe players

 

[Dr_Bassim]

So if Babar is not availabe or a few others, the entire series is shelved?

What nonsense is this?

We could have even tried some youngsters and given the so-called seniors like Rizbar failures a rest anyways.

But no, we won't play until these 2 buffoons are in the team.

 

[sweep_shot]

Couldn't they play the tri-series with bench players?

It could've been a great opportunity to try out bench players and rookies.

 

[gazza619]

Lool at workload. What is stopping us sending a B team?

 

[gazza619]

So if Babar is not availabe or a few others, the entire series is shelved?

What nonsense is this?

We could have even tried some youngsters and given the so-called seniors like Rizbar failures a rest anyways.

But no, we won't play until these 2 buffoons are in the team.

Here you go again! you and your buddies here have nothing better to do then blame everything on RizBar.

 

[hafizexpress]

I thought I had seen it all, but this is beyond ridiculous

 

[jnaveen1980]

SA played two tests in NZ when their key players were comitted to SA20 leagues They went on to win the WTC in that cycle. Is Pakistan afraid of losing to Bangladesh without Rauf, Shaheen, Babar?

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Couldn't they play the tri-series with bench players?

It could've been a great opportunity to try out bench players and rookies.

A poor decision

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Play the series.

If concerned about player workload.....rest those players and find others.

 

[RizwanT20Champ]

So if Babar is not availabe or a few others, the entire series is shelved?

What nonsense is this?

We could have even tried some youngsters and given the so-called seniors like Rizbar failures a rest anyways.

But no, we won't play until these 2 buffoons are in the team.

Jealous that RizBar are sought after even by Aus? Stop derailing every thread with your hate. It is getting tiresome now.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

SA played two tests in NZ when their key players were comitted to SA20 leagues They went on to win the WTC in that cycle. Is Pakistan afraid of losing to Bangladesh without Rauf, Shaheen, Babar?

We still haven't understood what bilateral cricket means in current era.

You can see from comments from captain, chairman PCB, bowlers like Haris Rauf and even the PM congratulating series victory against South Africa.

Majority of fans would gladly lose all matches in Tri series if it means that we can try new combinations. But board and cricket media in Pakistan is stuck in dark ages.

 

[Kianig89]

PCB is afraid of experimentation as they find sponsors mostly series to series basis , may be don't want to hurt the market value of team by trying new players

 

[RizwanT20Champ]

Last time we played with Tullas, we lost to Afghanistan. Barely eeked out a tri series win vs Afghanistan and UAE including a loss to Afghanistan and didn't beat anyone of note in the Asia Cup other and would have lost to Bangladesh if not for a choke by them. It took the maligned Babar returning with a match winning 60 in the series against SA to win that series otherwise tulla would have ensured a series loss against SA B.

 

[RizwanT20Champ]

PCB is afraid of experimentation as they find sponsors mostly series to series basis , may be don't want to hurt the market value of team by trying new players

Tulla Agha scoring at 80 SR isn't exactly sponsor material.

 

[jnaveen1980]

We still haven't understood what bilateral cricket means in current era.

You can see from comments from captain, chairman PCB, bowlers like Haris Rauf and even the PM congratulating series victory against South Africa.

Majority of fans would gladly lose all matches in Tri series if it means that we can try new combinations. But board and cricket media in Pakistan is stuck in dark ages.

​

The board is trying to shield itself from criticism over bilateral losses by creating a façade of success through exaggerated promotion of bilateral wins. So they don't take any chance.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Just play the T20 series! Get more and more games in before the World Cup!

Complete nonsense!

Haven't you had enough of T20?

It's all they have played all year. And they are still as rubbish as they were months ago.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

I don't know what the reasons were and I tbh I don't care. Pakistan have played 96574 T20 matches this year and they are still as bad as they were months ago. Also, playing teams that are worse than/on the same level as you is not exactly productive either. Because you are not improving by constantly playing such teams. It's not like Pakistan declined a tri-series against England and Australia.

And personally speaking, I am a bit sick of seeing Pakistan play Bangladesh, Afghanistan etc. After this series I'm pretty sure I will be sick of seeing Pakistan play Sri Lanka too.

 

[Major]

KING BABAR

If Babar is busy with Big Bash, than no one else will play a series without him!


King has spoken

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Less T20I is almost always a good thing, not a bad thing

 

[Bhaijaan]

Honestly it’s world cricket which is poorer for missing out on the opportunity to watch Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka tri series. These are the series where legends are born.

 

[jnaveen1980]

I don't know what the reasons were and I tbh I don't care. Pakistan have played 96574 T20 matches this year and they are still as bad as they were months ago. Also, playing teams that are worse than/on the same level as you is not exactly productive either. Because you are not improving by constantly playing such teams. It's not like Pakistan declined a tri-series against England and Australia.

And personally speaking, I am a bit sick of seeing Pakistan play Bangladesh, Afghanistan etc. After this series I'm pretty sure I will be sick of seeing Pakistan play Sri Lanka too.

That is a valid point too. But pakistan can completely try a noob team against Bangaldesh though. You still get something out of it.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

That is a valid point too. But pakistan can completely try a noob team against Bangaldesh though. You still get something out of it.

Clearly they are afraid of losing to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka

 

[sithb]

Pakistan cricket loss can be India's gain. Pretty sure india can send a third string T20 xi

 

[RidiculousMan]

Well done PCB. We don't wanna see another Bangladesh t20i series. Rope in England or Australia

 

[RidiculousMan]

Lool at workload. What is stopping us sending a B team?

Insecurity of senior pros

 

[Nasty Naz]

Strange for PCB to decline it. I think it's a good idea and perfect opportunity to give your bench players a proper look so you have good backup options.

My guess is PCB just wants its players to have a competitive domestic tournament instead.

 

[Rana]

If Sri Lanka leave midway, and then Zimbabwe subsequently refuse to tour…

How stupid does this decision now look?

 

[Rana]

KING BABAR

If Babar is busy with Big Bash, than no one else will play a series without him!


King has spoken

The IMPACT of Joginder Sharma!

 

[Major]

The IMPACT of Joginder Sharma!

Bow you are crying that because of Babar a whole series got canceled.

King ko abhi Australia jana hai. Taab taak koi cricket nahi ho sakti Pakistan ke

 

[rpant_gabba]

RizBar is Pakistan cricket! Pakistan cricket is Rizbar!

 

[hassan918]

Bow you are crying that because of Babar a whole series got canceled.

King ko abhi Australia jana hai. Taab taak koi cricket nahi ho sakti Pakistan ke

I hope he does well in BBL. It will be a good test for him to prove his worth as a good T20 batter against top quality bowlers on the grounds where they play with decent size boundaries.