Exactly three years after a gun attack on the Sri Lankan team that took away international cricket from Pakistan, a delegation from Bangladesh arrived in Islamabad to assess the security situation ahead of a proposed bilateral series in April.
On March 3, 2009, gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore, killing eight Pakistanis and injuring seven touring players and their assistant coach.
As a result, international cricket was suspended in the country and Pakistan was also stripped of its right to co-host the World Cup held last year.
However, after several attempts, Bangladesh agreed to tour the country for three One-Day Internationals next month.
The delegation is headed by Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Mustafa Kamal and includes security committee member Imtiaz Ahmed Shamsul Huda, Bangladesh National Sports Council Secretary Shafiq Anwar, senior civil servants and police officials.
Majority of the members remained in Islamabad for a meeting with Interior Minister Rehman Malik, while a couple of them came to Karachi.
It has been learnt by The Express Tribune that members in Islamabad met Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Zaka Ashraf and other officials. Meanwhile, officials in Karachi were briefed about the security plan and accommodation. The security officials were to leave for Lahore in early hours of today, where they will join the rest of the team.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 4th, 2012.
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At this juncture we being cricket loving nation appreciate the efforts of (BCB) President Mustafa Kamal. All credit goes to Bangladesh delegation. It is useless to say that Zaka Ashraf has done any effort to bring International Cricket in Pakistan.
There is critical security situation in Pakistan and anything can be happened at any time. Our cricket officials and law enforcement agencies must be careful and make a clear cut security plan. Due to attack on Sri Lankan team in Lahore our image has damaged a lot as nation.
The visiting cricket team must be given full proof security. The team must be given security from Hotel to the stadium. During the shifting of the team from hotel to stadium and vice versa the roads must be closed for public traffic. One day earlier public must be notified for the change of public routes.