Pakistan & Bangladesh to Honour Plane Crash Victims During Second T20I in Dhaka

DHAKA: Cricket will take a backseat to grief and solidarity at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium today as Pakistan and Bangladesh pause to honour the victims of a devastating military plane crash that rocked Dhaka on the eve of the second T20I.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed that the match, the second of the three-game series, will be played in observance of National Mourning Day, following a tragic Bangladesh Air Force training plane crash that claimed the lives of at least 20 people and injured over 170 others on Monday. The aircraft reportedly suffered a technical malfunction shortly after takeoff before plunging into a school and college campus in the capital.

As the nation grapples with shock and sorrow, both cricket boards have committed to honouring the victims in the spirit of unity and respect. The national flag will fly at half-mast at Mirpur and other BCB venues across the country, while players from both sides — along with match officials — will wear black armbands throughout the contest. A minute’s silence will precede the first ball, and the stadium will forgo all music and celebratory sounds during the match.

The cricketing stakes, however, remain high as Bangladesh looks to seal the series with a win in front of home supporters. Pakistan, meanwhile, will be looking for a strong response to send the series into a decider after failing to come to grips with the surface in the first match.

Read more: Pakistan’s T20 Squad Reaches Dhaka for Bangladesh Series

The third and final match of the series is scheduled for July 24 at the same venue, but for now, the focus will shift from fierce competition to a shared moment of remembrance and dignity for all the innocent lives lost.