BCCI have sent the names of Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Shami to the Bangladesh Cricket Board as it prepares to host the two T20I contests between Asia XI and World XI to celebrate the 100th anniversary of their founding father.
“Ganguly sent in the names to the BCB after we checked on the availability of the players. Kohli, Shami, Dhawan and Kuldeep will represent us in the Asia XI team. It has been a while since we sent the names because the Bangladesh board needed the list from BCCI to be able to prepare the Asian squad,” the source told IANS.
Bizarrely, the first match of the two will clash with India’s final ODI against South Africa which might mean these players skipping the first game and playing the second T20I.
Pakistan players are reportedly not playing this series. This, however, has nothing to do with BCB snubbing PCB as a spokesperson later cleared. BCCI’s joint secretary Jayesh George said that there will be no Pakistani players in the match.
“What we are aware of is that there will be no Pakistan players in the Asia XI. That is what the message is. So, there is no question of both countries coming together or picking one over the other,” he had said.
PCB declined to participate due to their own commitments with the Pakistan Super League.
“The T20Is between World XI and Asia XI were scheduled from March 16-20, while the PSL 2020 is likely to end on March 22. Since dates of both the series couldn’t be changed, we offered our regrets to the BCB; both verbally and in writing, which they understood and accepted,” a PCB spokesperson said.“It is unfortunate that the facts were twisted to mislead Pakistan cricket fans and followers.”