Bangladesh cricketer Mushfiqur Rahim confirms he will not visit Pakistan

Rahim said he will not visit the country due to his family's concerns over security.

Rahim told EspnCricinfo "I have already said I wouldn't go to Pakistan. I have decided it long ago and informed the board. I have submitted a letter too. My family is worried, and they don't want me to go."

"There's no bigger sin for me than not playing for Bangladesh. But I had denied an offer to play in the PSL after knowing that the tournament will be entirely held in Pakistan. My family didn't agree with it," he said.

Bangladesh's tour to Pakistan was confirmed this month.

After negotiations, the cricket boards of the two cricket playing nations decided that Bangladesh will now visit Pakistan over three legs - first, for three T20Is between January 24 and 27, then for the first Test from February 7 to 11, and finally for one ODI and one more Test between April 3 and 9.

No ruling out his future plan of playing in Pakistan in the coming years, the cricketer said: "I agree that things have improved in Pakistan, but I will gain confidence when I see teams going there for the next two years."

He told the cricket website: "I have been to Pakistan before, it is a great place to play cricket."

Meanwhile, Bangladesh named its squad for the T20 series against Pakistan.

Mahmudullah (Captain), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Naim Sheikh, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Liton Kumer Das, MD Mithun, Afif Hossain Dhrubo, Mahedi Hasan, Aminul Islam Biplob, Mustafizur Rahman, Shafiul Islam, Al-Amin Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Hasan Mahmud