Cricket: BCB avoids discussion on Pakistan tour
Chances get slimmer as time running out for proposed series this month.
KARACHI:
As Pakistan anxiously awaits the return of international cricket, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) ignored discussing the fate of its team’s proposed tour to the country.
The 35th meeting of the BCB’s board of directors, which was held yesterday, was expected to shed light on the fate of the tour.
However, according to an official close to the BCB, the matter did not come under discussion as the meeting discussed other cricketing matters of the country.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), seeking to end the drought of international cricket, invited Bangladesh to tour Pakistan in April and in return supported the nomination of BCB chief Mustafa Kamal for International Cricket Council’s (ICC) presidency.
A BCB security delegation, including Kamal, visited Pakistan early last month, increasing chances of the series being held after it expressed satisfaction on the security arrangements.
However, the BCB changed its stance within a few days following a decision in the ICC meeting which hinted that it could allow local officials for the series in case security apprehensions do not allow the sport’s governing body to send its own officials. Subsequently, Kamal said they will not send team to Pakistan without neutral officials.
Chances get slimmer
Meanwhile, showing lack of interest on playing the series, the latest BCB meeting ignored the discussion on Pakistan tour.
“Pakistan tour wasn’t on agenda of the meeting,” the official told The Express Tribune.
“The BCB is seeking the ICC’s support for making the final decision and until then it’s not considering touring Pakistan.”
According to reports, the ICC’s Executive Board meeting on April 14 will be crucial as it will have to endorse a decision on allowing home officials for the proposed series.
However, the chances of PCB managing to host the series even Bangladesh agrees to send its team seem remote due to the hot weather in May after which Pakistan are due to tour Sri Lanka for a full-fledged series.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 2nd, 2012.
As Pakistan anxiously awaits the return of international cricket, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) ignored discussing the fate of its team’s proposed tour to the country.
The 35th meeting of the BCB’s board of directors, which was held yesterday, was expected to shed light on the fate of the tour.
However, according to an official close to the BCB, the matter did not come under discussion as the meeting discussed other cricketing matters of the country.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), seeking to end the drought of international cricket, invited Bangladesh to tour Pakistan in April and in return supported the nomination of BCB chief Mustafa Kamal for International Cricket Council’s (ICC) presidency.
A BCB security delegation, including Kamal, visited Pakistan early last month, increasing chances of the series being held after it expressed satisfaction on the security arrangements.
However, the BCB changed its stance within a few days following a decision in the ICC meeting which hinted that it could allow local officials for the series in case security apprehensions do not allow the sport’s governing body to send its own officials. Subsequently, Kamal said they will not send team to Pakistan without neutral officials.
Chances get slimmer
Meanwhile, showing lack of interest on playing the series, the latest BCB meeting ignored the discussion on Pakistan tour.
“Pakistan tour wasn’t on agenda of the meeting,” the official told The Express Tribune.
“The BCB is seeking the ICC’s support for making the final decision and until then it’s not considering touring Pakistan.”
According to reports, the ICC’s Executive Board meeting on April 14 will be crucial as it will have to endorse a decision on allowing home officials for the proposed series.
However, the chances of PCB managing to host the series even Bangladesh agrees to send its team seem remote due to the hot weather in May after which Pakistan are due to tour Sri Lanka for a full-fledged series.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 2nd, 2012.