- T20I series to begin in Lahore on May 28.
- Hasan, Tanvir, Parvez among players in first group.
- Teams to train at Gaddafi Stadium before opener.
LAHORE: The first group of the Bangladesh cricket team has arrived in Lahore for the three-match T20 International series against Pakistan.
The initial 10-member squad includes players Hasan Mahmud, Mohammad Tanvir Islam, and Parvez Hossain Emon. Tanzim Hasan Sakib and members of the support staff are also part of the first batch to reach the city.
Bangladesh players are set to arriving in total three groups for the upcoming series. Both teams will train at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on May 26 and 27, ahead of the opening fixture. Captains of both sides will also hold a pre-match press conference on May 27.
All three T20Is will be held at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, starting on May 28 and concluding on June 1.
The first T20I will be played on Wednesday, the second on Friday and the final on Sunday. All matches will begin at 8:00pm local time.
Originally, Bangladesh was scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on May 21 in two groups, with a five-match T20I series planned to begin on May 25 in Faisalabad. However, logistical adjustments and security considerations led to a revised three-match series, all to be hosted in Lahore, following the revision of the schedule in the wake of recent standoff between Pakistan and India.
The PCB announced a 16-member squad for the T20I series, with Salman Ali Agha named captain and Shadab Khan as vice-captain. The selection is based on performances in the ongoing PSL X.
The squad includes Hasan Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Faheem Ashraf, Hussain Talat, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, and Naseem Shah. Notable exclusions are former captain Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Abbas Afridi, Abdul Samad, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Ali, Umair bin Yousuf, Sufyan Muqeem, and Usman Khan were also left out.
This series marks the beginning of Mike Hesson’s tenure as head coach.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh will be led by Litton Das, who was appointed T20I captain earlier this year after Najmul Hossain Shanto stepped down. Off-spinner Mahedi Hasan is the vice-captain for both the UAE and Pakistan tours.
