Karachi, 30 December 2022:

Pakistan National Cricket Team Players called on the Deputy High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Karachi S. M. Mahbubul Alam on 30 December 2022 at the Chancery.

Star Cricketers such as Muhammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman, Khushdil Shah, and Muhammad Imran were among others called on the Deputy High Commissioner.

A group of around 24 Players and Team Management/Doctors/Physiotherapists will travel to Bangladesh to participate at the 9^th Edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20, 2023 (BPL-T20, 9^th Edition), which will be organized by Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) during 06 January to 16 February 2023.  

During the meeting, Deputy High Commissioner S. M. Mahbubul Alam welcomed the star cricketers of Pakistan National Team to the Bangladesh Mission. He also warmly welcomed them to Bangladesh. He briefed that under the dynamic patronization of the Government, Bangladesh has been improving in different sports. He cited as for example that Bangladesh National Women Football Team became Champion in the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Women's Championship: 2022 SAFF Women’s Championship on 19 September 2022.  

With profound honor, the Deputy High Commissioner recalled that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), which has the responsibility to promote Cricket was established by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1972. Currently Cricket has been Bangladesh's most significant sporting achievement. Cricket is a very popular game in Bangladesh.

Deputy High Commissioner added that becoming a full member of the ICC in 2000, Bangladesh played her first Test match in the same year. Since then, during this short span of time in comparison of other big cricketing nations,  Bangladesh has been thriving in all the formats of the game and has records of defeating all the big cricketing nations in different formats particularly in the ODIs. As for example, he mentioned that Bangladesh whitewashed New Zealand in 2010 with a 4-0 in the OID series. Bangladesh knocked out England and reached the quarter finals of the ICCI World Cup tournament in 2015 for the first-time in her history. Deputy High Commissioner also mentioned about the brilliant performance of Bangladesh Men’s National Cricket Team in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia. He also mentioned the Bangladesh’s 2-1 ODI Series wins against India in Bangladesh during 4-10 December 2022.

Deputy High Commissioner also mentioned that Bangladesh Women's team won the Asia Cup defeating India in the final in 2018 to achieve its maiden trophy in a multi-team tournament. Bangladesh also defeated higher-ranked Sri Lanka and Pakistan in the tournaments. Bangladesh's women's cricket team recently qualified for the ICC ODI World Cup 2022.

Deputy High Commissioner also took the opportunity to highlight on various development initiatives and sectoral achievements in Bangladesh. He outlined that Bangladesh opened Padma Bridge on 25 June 2022, Modhumoti Bridge and 3^rd Shitalakhhya Bridge on 10 October, 100 bridges in 25 Districts on 7 November, 100 motorways/roads of 2021.56 kms across the country on 21 December and the Metro Rail in Dhaka on 28 December. He mentioned that Bangladesh has become a ‘Role Model’ of socio-economic development in the world and Bangladesh has already achieved ‘Vision 2021’ and striving to achieve “Vision 2041” to become a higher middle-income country by 2031 and developed country and Smart Bangladesh by 2041.

Pakistan National Cricket Teams Players highly appreciated the socio-economic developments and progress in sports in Bangladesh. They shared their sweet memories in Bangladesh during their participations at different matches hosted in Bangladesh including the ODIs. They also shared their lasting memories in playing the BPL in different previous editions. They profoundly appreciated the enthusiastic cricket fans in Bangladesh. They highly appreciated the impressive local hospitality in Bangladesh. They expressed their sentiments that playing for different teams of BPL is an honor for them. They believe that their participation to the BPL would enhance the player-to-player contacts and rapports. The young generation would have the opportunity to mutually learn and grow together. They particularly appreciated the impressive improvement of Bangladesh Crickets since 2000.

Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Karachi S. M. Mahbubul Alam assured them to all possible cooperation from the Bangladesh Mission in Karachi. He guided them to the Bangabandhu Corner and show them the rare and historic photographs on Bangladesh and her independence and the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Deputy High Commissioner also presented them with gifts and souvenirs.