Cricket: Snubbing Pakistan for India tour

A reason for not hosting Bangladesh for a Test has been the Tigers’ low status in the format that will yield in low earnings for the hosts in terms of sponsorship. However, Bangladesh’s recent win over India in the Asia Cup has earned them some respect. PHOTO: AFP

India have not hosted Bangladesh for a Test match since the Tigers gained full status in 2000. The reasons have reportedly been low earnings for the hosts in terms of sponsors given Bangladesh’s low status in Test cricket. The Tigers’ only visits to India have been for One-Day Internationals. India have played seven Tests in Bangladesh, including the inaugural match in Dhaka in November 2000, but remain the only Test-playing nation yet to welcome the Bangladeshis at home.

BCCI assured BCB of series: Kamal

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief Mustafa Kamal informed his colleagues in the BCB that he had been assured by his Indian counterpart Narayanaswamy Srinivasan that India will host Bangladesh this year. Kamal met Srinivasan on the sidelines of the Indian Premier League and he had ‘received assurance that India will host Bangladesh for a full tour later this year’, said a BCB statement.

There was no immediate comment from the Board Of Control For Cricket In India on the matter, and it remained unclear how India will accommodate Bangladesh in their crowded schedule — India are due to host New Zealand in August-September for three Tests before taking part in the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka in September-October, and then host England for four Tests in November-December.

Bangladesh, who were due to tour Pakistan this month, look set to pull out of the reported deal where Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Zaka Ashraf would endorse Kamal’s nomination for the post of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Vice-President in return for a tour of Pakistan.

Despite a satisfied security team and Kamal’s approval after it visited Pakistan, the tour is likely to be scrapped despite PCB’s all-out efforts to guarantee high-level security to the tourists.

Pakistan-Bangladesh relations to suffer: PCB

Meanwhile, cricket relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh will be reconsidered if the latter decides not to tour Pakistan for the series, said Ashraf.

Talking to the media in Lahore, Ashraf said that it will be decided before the ICC meeting whether Bangladesh will be touring Pakistan or not. Ashraf refused to name other nations that Pakistan has invited to tour the country, saying that there were those who did not want to see international cricket in the country and were trying to stop others as well.

Commenting on India touring Pakistan, the chairman said that the tour is still pending and if India wants Pakistan to tour their country first then they should announce a plan for it. (With additional input from AFP)

Zaka Ashraf

“The BCB was really eager to send its team. The tour still hangs in the balance but even if they don’t come, we won’t be dejected. We’ll look at other options then.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 11^th, 2012.