The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has opted to drop the ODI series from their upcoming tour of Pakistan, choosing instead to play only T20Is. This decision, made in coordination with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), aligns with both teams’ preparations for the Asia Cup and the ICC T20 World Cup.
Initially, Bangladesh was scheduled to tour Pakistan in May for three ODIs and three T20Is under the Future Tours Programme (FTP). However, both boards have now agreed to replace the ODIs with a five-match T20I series, allowing their squads to refine their strategies for the upcoming global tournaments.
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The 2025 Asia Cup, to be hosted by India in September, will be played in the T20 format, serving as a key preparatory event for the 2026 T20 World Cup, which will take place in India and Sri Lanka.
Additionally, Bangladesh will host Pakistan for a three-match T20I series in July, a series that was finalized during discussions between the PCB and BCB presidents at the recent ICC Champions Trophy meeting. Though not part of the FTP, it has been scheduled to further enhance both teams’ World Cup preparations.
“We have decided to play T20Is instead of ODIs during our upcoming tour of Pakistan to focus on preparations for the next T20 World Cup and Asia Cup,” a BCB official told Cricbuzz. He further stated, “When Pakistan visits Bangladesh, they are set to play three T20Is on July 20, 22, and 24 in Dhaka, just before their West Indies tour.”
