The wait is finally over.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Sunday confirmed its tour of Pakistan for a short one 50-over match and one Twenty20 international.
The series will revive international cricket suspended in the country three years ago.
"I am pleased to confirm the tour in which Bangladesh will play a one-day match on April 29 and a Twenty20 game the next day, both in Lahore," Bangladesh Cricket Board president Mustafa Kamal said in a press release.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf said the confirmation is a good sign.
"I am extremely pleased that Bangladesh has confirmed the tour. Obviously this is very important for us and we will leave no stone unturned to ensure that this tour takes place in a befitting manner," said Ashraf.
The Bangladesh cricket team will soon be face-to-face with Pakistan in matches played at the Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Developments in the last few weeks suggested that Bangladesh was reluctant to send its team in the absence of neutral officials which the International Cricket Council (ICC) had refused to send to Pakistan.
However, the PCB remained optimistic about the Bangladesh tour and the PCB Chairman had tried convincing BCB Chairman Mustafa Kamal time and again.
Last month’s chief executive committee meeting agreed to allow local officials for the series if there existed security apprehensions over sending neutral officials. The CEC had recommended the matter to the ICC for approval.
COMMENTS (18)
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nahiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnn....
Love you Bangladesh
Now its responisiblity of each and every Pakistani to protect their guests. If something bad happens to BD team, It would end International cricket in Pakistan for ever.
Ideally Rawalpindi would have been the better choice where the last month's T20 tournament was such a huge success where thousands had turned up to fill the stadium. But I guess the pros at the PCB have better idea.
Well, this came as a total surprise given all the cloud that was hanging around this tour and all the statements that were coming out of the BCB and the PCB in recent times. Whatever the reason be, the vice presidency of Mustafa Kamal or the current statement of Zaka Ashraf " the relationship will suffer", we stil have to see to believe that the Bangladesh tour is on.
This tour will not convince other top tiered international teams to tour Pakistan in the short term but now the onus is on the PCB and Pakistan to ensure air tight security to the Bangladeshi players, officials and the general public who do turn up for these games.
doesnt sound like a good idea in light of
http://tribune.com.pk/story/365064/prison-break-militants-attack-bannu-jail-over-900-inmates-freed/
Thank you Bangladesh and congratulations to PCB on a job well done. You do wonder at the choice of venue considering Lahore is where the Sri Lankan's were attacked. But why argue in this moment of joy.
just a odi n t20. it shows how fearful n reluctant bangladeshis r to travel to pak
Zaka did it, Love u Bangla and Zaka
PCB "dhumki" finally worked.
Australia should be invited next.
Zaka Ashraf did what Ijaz Butt failed to do.
Not very smart, given our total lack of competence in mattters of security. However if we must.....I have an idea! The Pakistani players should accompany/shadow the Bangladeshi players wherever they go. Maybe even the Pakistani officials shadow the Bangladeshi officials. So if anything untoward does happen we have martyrs on both sides!
This is good news and the PCB should be congratulated but I doubt that this will do any good for getting international cricket back to Pakistan. I think the Sri Lankan team should be invited next, they have been some of the biggest supporters of Pakistan cricket since they have faced similar difficulties with terror in their own country.
Thank you Bangladesh.
Finally a step in the right direction. Job well done, Zaka Ashraf and team.
This is good news indeed.