Bangladesh head coach willing to tour Pakistan

Bangladesh head coach Russell Domingo does not have a problem travelling to Pakistan if the Bangladesh Cricket Board agrees to send the national team for the tour.

Bangladesh are scheduled to tour Pakistan later this month to play three Twenty20 internationals and two Tests. The BCB, however, has asked for only a short series featuring three T20s in Pakistan, while it has asked the PCB to host the Test series in a neutral venue.

BCB president Nazmul Hasan recently said that the players and the coaching staff have expressed their concern over touring Pakistan, and added that it will be difficult to go ahead with the Test series in 'a suffocating environment' due to the stringent security measures. The PCB, though, is adamant not to play any home Test outside Pakistan.

The Bangladeshi coaching staff includes four South Africans - head coach Russell Domingo, batting consultant Neil McKenzie, fielding coach Ryan Cook and newly appointed physiotherapist Julian Calefato. The other members are New Zealand's Daniel Vettori who is the spin consultant, Indian analyst Shrinivaas Chandrasekaran and strength and conditioning coach Mario Villavarayan from Sri Lanka.

Domingo told Cricbuzz that some members of the team management have declined to tour Pakistan but insisted that he is ready to make himself available if BCB decides to send the team. "I think some guys [of the team management] are not keen to go. But if we have to, then I am going," said Domingo.

"I think we can only discuss the matter once the decision is made. We need to discuss with the cricket board and the board will decide what will happen next," he added.

Dhaka/AKA