Bangladesh players receive clearance to play PSL

A top Bangladeshi government official said on Monday that the national cricketers left for the Pakistan Super League after obtaining security clearance to take part in the tournament. Bangladesh state minister for youth and sports Aminul Haq told Cricbuzz on Sunday (March 22) that the players will not take part in the PSL if there are security concerns.

The announcement came after the Bangladesh Cricket Board insisted that they would need government clearance for the cricketers as far as taking part in the PSL is concerned due to the regional tensions. Hours after the announcement was made, four Bangladeshi cricketers left for Pakistan raising quite a few eyebrows with many wondering if they were travelling at their own risk.

A top government official then cleared the air stating that they paved the way for the players to proceed. "We have discussed with the ministry of foreign affairs (about the situation in Pakistan) and later they communicated with our High Commission in Islamabad and after they provided assurance we decided to give permission to play in PSL," the government official confirmed to Cricbuzz on Monday.

Cricbuzz obtained a copy of the document sent to the Bangladesh government on March 23 by the Bangladesh High Commission from Pakistan regarding security and safety of the players.

"Please be informed that both Pakistan and Afghanistan have declared ceasefire before Eid-ul Azha. It is expected that the ceasefire will sustain for time being. The venues for PSL matches are selected in Lahore and Karachi which are safe enough. Yesterday Pakistan Cricket Control Board announced that there would be no public gathering at the stadium. Concerned authority of Pakistan are committed to ensure safety and security of the cricketers," the letter states.

"Under these circumstances, the Mission recommends that Bangladeshi cricketers can participate at the PSL matches," it added.

Six players - Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossain Emon, Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, and Rishad Hossain - had earlier been granted No Objection Certificates (NOCs) by the BCB after being picked by franchises for the tournament, scheduled from March 26 to May 3.