KARACHI: The Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) decision to cancel their tour of Pakistan left the country’s cricket board fuming, which, in its initial response, is highly likely to stop its players from participating in the Bangladesh league event this month, according to a board official.
The announcement was a blow for the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) efforts of ending the drought of international cricket since the 2009 attack on Sri Lanka team. The board was already in talks with sponsors, who had showed interest after a tender notice was issued on the PCB website.
However, the BCB, who had committed to send their team for an ODI and a Twenty20 international later this month, yesterday cancelled the tour citing the country’s poor security situation as the reason.
“We made commitment but still there are security concerns,” said the BCB President Nazmul Hasan. “We have noticed the security situation in Pakistan has not improved significantly, rather deteriorated. In this circumstance, we think it will not be very wise to tour.”
The tour cancellation left the senior PCB officials disappointed, according to a board official.
“Definitely, it’s very disappointing,” the official told The Express Tribune. “To send their team or not is their call but the excuse they’ve [BCB] given is not acceptable.
“There are no such security threats. The PCB successfully hosted the World XI matches, consisting over a dozen foreign cricketers, who played in Karachi. The British Army team also visited Pakistan and their tour went safely.”
The official added that the PCB will reconsider its relations with the neighbouring board.
“Right now most of the officials are travelling and busy due to the ongoing India tour. The relations with the BCB will be discussed after the series.”
The official further stated that the board was unlikely to give permission to its players for the second edition of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) that will begin later this year.
“It’s on the cards but a final decision on it will be taken later.”
The recent auction of the second edition was dominated by Pakistan players with Imran Nazir getting the top price among foreign cricketers. (With additional input from AFP)
Published in The Express Tribune, January 1st, 2013.
COMMENTS (10)
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@Adnan
Yeah, sure, the grapes are very sour. Bangladesh is the world's basket case and Pakistan is "God's paradise".
Are you Indian by any chance?
They are a second-rate team so who cares? Bangladesh stands to gain from playing Pakistan so they are the real losers!
@Moosa Khan:
"Once again its India 1 – Pk 0. They did it again. First self, then gave lesson to SL, and now baby BD will have no feeder if visited"
Something is wrong with your logical thinking faculty. Why are you blaming India for all your misery? It is not just Bangladesh, India or Sri Lanka but the entire world, including England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and the West Indies, that are currently boycotting Pakistan. First get your house in order and then invite guests. You can't expect your guests to come and be stoned to death or killed in buses by rabid hate-mongering mullahs and their thugs. Keep your sanity, man. Pakistan is full of perverted-thinking people like you who are not only doing a big disservice to the cause of cricket but also unwilling to come to terms with world realities. Let's accept one thing: you are NOT a safe place for anything, be it for cricket, business, tourism or foreign investments.
Well this was always on cards. Its not them but we are making fool of ourselves. In addition to what we have done to ourselves, BCCI and Indian foreign policy would ensure Pakistan gets this treatment for good. A stable Pakistan has always caused problems for India so they would never let this happen. Forget cricket treat the nation first with sanity.
Once again its India 1 - Pk 0. They did it again. First self, then gave lesson to SL, and now baby BD will have no feeder if visited.
Come on BCB Tell the Truth
It's very strange that BCB has declined to send its cricket team to Pakistan, despite its written commitment, noted in the minutes of the ICC and ICC is watching this TAMASHA from side lines.
BCB management must know that security concerns are everywhere in this world. Recently, West Indian cricket team's bus was pelted with stones in BD, after the BD team lost the match against WI team, with a huge margin.
BCB management, should also know that many international events of different sports have been held peacefully in Pakistan, in the recent past.
Moreover, the BCB should also be in the notice that in the last few days, Pakistani and Indian Hockey Federations have signed an agreement of reciprocal hockey series, to be played for five years; wherein, the series will commence with the Indian Hockey team's visit to Pakistan, in March 2013.
So, it will be better for the BCB to show its true colours; and tell the world the real reasons for not going to Pakistan; and not hide behind the pseudo mantra of security concern, which was personally checked by the BD security officials and openly declared, that Pakistani security plan for the BD cricketers, was absolutely perfect and satisfactory.
Here ICC must tell BCB that it has no right to play politics and unnecessarily malign Pakistan, on a non existent security issue.
Why PCB beging to BD? BD forget its PAKISTAN who brought them in INTERNATIONAL CRICKET and now they are playing with us. PCB wait and see they themself want to tour PAKISTAN an we say NO THANKS.