ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Thursday that the proposed tour of the Bangladesh cricket team in April 2012 will help revive international cricket in Pakistan.
"I must appreciate Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Zaka Ashraf for his efforts to convince international teams to visit Pakistan and provide entertainment to cricket lovers," he told the media after meeting Chairman PCB to discuss the Bangladesh tour to Pakistan, expected in April, 2012.
Speaking about the security arrangements, Malik said he would provide the touring team with "box security, including bulletproof and bombproof buses which will be cordoned by four more similiar vehicles. There would be zero tolerance regarding the security for both teams, as the government desires foreign teams should visit Pakistan. The situation has improved and we will take all measures to improve it further."
He added that to ensure coordination on security to touring teams, a new post was being created in the PCB wherein a Deputy Inspector General Police level officer will be appointed as Liaison Officer to plan, coordinate with district security officials.
PCB has been allowed to arrange for two bullet & bomb-proof buses to ensure complete security.
Malik referred to the recent tours by the Chinese hockey team and Indian blind cricket team which took place without any untoward incident.The Minister said that both tours proved that there was no threat to visiting teams.
He said the Bangladesh security delegation is scheduled to visit Pakistan later this month to review the security situation.
Earlier in December, Zaka Ashraf had said that he had briefed Bangladesh Cricket Board officials in Dhaka on a proposed tour.
"We will welcome them with foolproof security arrangements. I am sure that after a successful tour by the Bangladesh team, we will be able to convince more teams to tour Pakistan. We want to bring back cricket to Pakistan."
Ashraf said that a special PCB committee was working to select the team coach and would announce a name after the England series in UAE.
“Pakistan team is performing well and hoped it will perform well against England in Tests, ODIs, T20s.”
Pakistani cricket has suffered a dearth of international tours to the country since 2009 after an attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore.
COMMENTS (10)
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come on Pakistan cricket board get the act together and provide full security for the bangladeshi team, and lets get the ball rolling, every team that will come to play in Pakistan, it will open doors for others.
@Simon Khan: I suggest you read your history and also check with Bangla Deshis too, as to their view of Pakistanis and the history they know!!!
To be honest Indian to thoughts dont matter nowdays, Indians conspired to turn West Pakistanis against East Pakistani (Bangladesh), India is becoming jealous as Pakistan is asking its old brethens to Help them and not India. Dont forget Pakistan is more close to Bangladesh then India. The name India was just a British creation.
Zindabaad Pakistan and Zindabaad Bangladesh
Dont forget without Muslim Bengalis there would be no Pakistan as they are the original Pakistani’s to the bone who are now Bangladeshi’s.
Pakistan will damn well need to purify their security, if there is any harm to Muslim Bengalis then shame on the current ununified Pakistan.
Pakistanis need to remember that they live in a land Bengali Muslims created with their heart and soul that will never change.
@Hedgefunder, Indians need not squirm. After all international sport has already started in Pakistan with Palestinian and Malaysian Football, Chinese Hockey tours and the recently concluded international Benazir Bhutto Boxing Championships where even your countrymen praised Pakistani hospitality.
@hedgefunder: We shall see. Your kind will hugely be disappointed
I dont think anyone will go to pakistan for cricket or any other event even for the fact .
Well its a start, if they take up the invite, however the chances of any other nations taking up the offer over next decade is rather slim !!!