DHAKA (Dunya News) – Pakistan and Bangladesh have agreed to cooperate on the promotion of cricket and umpire development programmes.
Federal Interior Minister and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi met with Bangladesh’s Minister for Youth and Sports, Local Government, and Rural Development, Asif Mahmood. During the meeting, both sides decided to formalize a bilateral agreement between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to promote sports.
It was agreed to work together in areas such as the development of cricket—especially umpires' development programs. Discussions were also held on expanding cooperation in women’s cricket development programs.
Naqvi invited Bangladeshi umpires to undergo training in Pakistan.
The meeting emphasised the need for joint efforts in youth skill development and employment generation. Discussions also included higher education, scholarship programs, and sharing expertise in the education sector. Both sides also talked about innovation and cooperation in the field of solar energy.
Naqvi shared details about NADRA’s secure identity systems, which sparked great interest from Minister Asif Mahmood. Mohsin Naqvi invited the Bangladeshi delegation to visit NADRA, and a high-level team from Bangladesh is expected to visit Pakistan soon for this purpose.
The minister stated that the majority populations of both Pakistan and Bangladesh consist of youth, and promoting sports activities can play a key role in youth development.
Also present at the meeting were Bangladesh’s Secretary for Youth and Sports Mehbub Alam, Secretary for Local Government Raza Maqsood, Pakistani High Commission’s Charge d’Affaires Muhammad Wasif, cricket team head coach Mike Hesson, team manager Naveed Akram Cheema, and other senior officials.
This meeting is seen as a step toward strengthening multidimensional ties between Bangladesh and Pakistan—particularly in youth development, sports, education, and renewable energy.