NEW DELHI: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Monday cleared its players to take part in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 after consultations with government authorities.In a statement issued on Monday, the board said it had been in touch with the Ministry of Youth & Sports and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before taking a decision.“Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) wishes to inform that it has maintained close coordination with the Ministry of Youth & Sports and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Bangladesh regarding the participation of Bangladeshi cricketers in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) T20 tournament”, the statement said.“Following consultations, it has been confirmed that there are no prevailing security or safety concerns for the players selected to represent various franchises in the competition. This conclusion has been reached based on assurances received from the Bangladesh Mission in Islamabad”, it added, as cited by news agency ANI.“With these assurances in place, the players have travelled to Pakistan for the tournament”, the statement said.“The BCB reiterates that the well-being of its players remains its foremost priority. The Board will continue to remain in close contact with all concerned parties”, it added.The tournament is scheduled to run from March 26 to May 3. It will be held without spectators due to the ongoing West Asia situation and a fuel crisis in Pakistan.Mohsin Naqvi, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has asked people to “restrict their movements because of the fuel crisis.”The number of venues has also been reduced from six to two, with matches set to be played in Lahore and Karachi. The opening ceremony in Lahore has also been cancelled.Earlier, players including Mustafizur Rahman and Parvez Hossain Emon (Lahore Qalandars), Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana and Tanzid Hasan Tamim (Peshawar Zalmi), and Rishad Hossain (Rawalpindi PindiZ) had been granted No Objection Certificates by the BCB after being picked by franchises.
