PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf expressed displeasure over Bangladesh's decision and said that all the arrangements for the tour had been completed.
The announcement came after a Bangladesh high court ordered the national team's upcoming tour of Pakistan to be postponed for at least four weeks due to security fears.
A writ petition was filed in the Bangladesh high court challenging Bangladesh’s visit to Pakistan citing ‘grave security concerns’.
Additional Attorney General MK Rahman told AFP that the high court in Dhaka had ordered Bangladesh's cricket authorities to explain why the tour was scheduled to go ahead despite concerns over the team's safety.
"It asked the cricket board to explain in the next four weeks. During the four weeks, the court imposed an injunction on the cricket team's tour to Pakistan," he said.
The high court gave the order following a petition by a lawyer and a university teacher.
"We told the court that the Pakistan tour would risk the lives of our cricketers," Hassan Azim, lawyer for the two petitioners, told AFP.
"Pakistan is not a safe place for an international sports event. No other international teams are travelling to Pakistan. Why should Bangladesh go? The decision was imposed on the cricketers."
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Spokesperson Nadeem Sarwar said that the stay order issued by Bangladesh High Court is aimed at straining ties between the two countries.
International cricket was banned in Pakistan when Sri Lankan cricket team was attacked in Lahore in 2009 and Bangladesh will be the first Test-playing nation to tour the country since the attack.
The Bangladesh team had accepted Pakistan's offer to tour the country for a short tour consisting of one 50-over match and one Twenty20 International. Bangladesh cricket coach Stuart Law had expressed his reservations with Pakistan's security situation.
Pakistan, in efforts to revive international cricket, vowed to provide ‘presidential-level security’ to Bangladesh team during its tour and dispatched a 70-page security plan to International Cricket Council (ICC), according to a report by Cricinfo.
According to the plan, 2,000 policemen will be patrolling the route from the hotel to the stadium, and about 1,200 policemen will be present at the stadium when the team is there.
COMMENTS (119)
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@Babar:
The solution to this dilemma is that PCB needs to boost our cricket team morale and technique now who can prove they are the best in the world by winning at others' soils. Thats the only solution we have for the time being. Beggers are not choosers.
Was it not just some weeks ago that Pakistani talk show hosts were generously spreading the "Humare Bengali Bhai" maska on their third rate "talk shows"? What happened all of a sudden for this change of heart? Now we hear all this anger and insults of the proud self reliant Bengalis? Where simple reason fails Pakistani intelligence, incredible accusations of Indian conspiracies fly in the air!
We should accept the Law and order situation is really bad in Pakistan and no team should come until it is approved.
Hey, how about asking your all weather friend China? Surely, they can form a team and come to Pak, no?
@Adeel759: recent raid on Bannu prison by some 200 Taliban militants who were able to free around 350 prisoners including highly-wanted persons such as ex-air force technician Adnan Rashid, accused of being involved in an attempt on the life on General Musharraf. and donr forget the Osama raid..what maked you think pakistan is still safe ???
Dear Bangladesh cricket team...Please come and play just one match in Pakistan. We are on our knees and begging you. Nobody wants to come and play in Pakistan. Our lives are not safe but we will make sure you are safe. We have no water or light but will make sure you have it all. Please come and bring an ounce of happiness into our miserable and wretched lives. We beg you and plead you to come for just one day. The Pakistani nation will be grateful to you till eternity.
If this doesn't work I guess nothing will...
Probably the dirty injuns forced them to cancel the tour.
Lt Col Imtiaz : "What are you doing in Afghanistan." Just cleaning up the mess you have created in collusion with USA during the eighties, ninties etc. :
The only way to get teams to play in Pakistan. Bring Hakimullahs and Haqqanis men to give security to the visiting teams hoping that they dont change their minds in between and start asking for ransom after taking the team buses to comfortable North Wairistan :-))
Dear Pakistani fans,
Recently 400 hardcore militants have been set free from your Bannu prison. They are jobless now and roaming around looking for jobs. If you think, you should provide them target practice, well, then the Bangladesh Team Bus should not be the one.
Please spend your energy on catching those 400 guys instead of concocting new conspiracy theories and finding ghosts everywhere. Even apprehending 10 will give us confidence.
As long as those 400 guys are at large, forget Bangladesh, even Somalia will refuse to tour your country.
Yours sincerely, An Indian - subcontinent cricket fan
@Ali: Well said.. It should clear minds of those who were supporting Bangladesh in getting test status and in their final against Pakistan.
@Jahandad
Pakistan taught them cricket and everyone knows these were Pakistanis behind the scene in bringing bangalis into international cricket,,,,,,,,,,,,,but remember you can trust a ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,but not a bangali,,,,,[a famous old 1971 quote]
No wonder the Bangladeshis are avoiding Pakistanis.
Bangladesh High Court has played with a straight bat. They have given BD Cricket Board 4 weeks to explain why their team is going to Pakistan when no other team is prepared to risk safety of their players. Given the seriously negetive media coverage in Bangladesh vis-a-vis this tour, it is fair that some intellectuals have approached the judiciary and got a stay order. It is now for PCB and BD Cricket Board to bowl in a manner that can beat the straight bat.
IF they don't want to come bcz of pure security concerns ,so its controversial bcz how could they accept the tour in first place,,,,, but here it seems as if they are angry over Pakistan last victory ,,,,,,,they are not, and they were not sportsmen from the beginning ,,,,,Pakistan taught them cricket and everyone knows these were Pakistanis behind the scene in bringing bangalis into international cricket,,,,,,,,,,,,,but remember you can trust a ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,but not a bangali,,,,,[a famous old 1971 quote]
@sulman: "If this kind of embarrassment we have to face in bringing the other teams in PAKISTAN then let them go……..approach to international court of justice!!! Aman ki asha has been badly exposed."
International court of justice??? Thee is no LAW that says teams should visit Pakistan. Secondly what does this have to do with India OR Aman ki Asha?
@saeed: and how will voting PTI help? among all the parties they are the closest supporters of the TTP, Haqqani, etc etc......If you want security - start supporting the elimination of ALL militants regardless of whether they are strategic assets or not!!
@Babar: "love silent diplomacy by India. This enemity will never end. Stop crap like Aman Ki Asha"
DId you read the news item? 2 Bangladeshi petitioners petiooned Bangladeshi court who passed an order. Nowhere any Indians are involved. Get over your conspiracy theories. Also do recognize the reality of security situation in your country/
Finally , the Bangladesh court helps them get even for the Asia Cup loss ...
@Tina.A. Shame on u. Even though the srilanka event was a security failure lots of Pakistanis security men died or were injured while trying to protect the cricket team. Don't insult their sacrifice
@imran: shame on us birather! Look at the security situation around the country, we can not let our own countrymen live in peace, how could a foreign cricketing team would feel assured here? We should learn to look at ourselves sometimes!
Bangladeshis are unreliable. They should had said NO right from the start. Yes/No/Yes/No just depicts their unprofessional and immature stance. Although their concerns are legitimate but I have never seen any court interfering for a sporting event. Anyway 3 days stay was not so dangerous.
Pakistani have started blaming India for the same. Few question for Pakistani, do you really respect others decision(Bangladesh)? Do you really feel yourself safe amid current crisis in Pakistan? Are you in a position to provide security to your own people in Pakistan? Can you justify the attack on the Srilankan team? Yes, its a question of security. You can not blame Bangladesh for your own mess up. Let me remind you, Pakistan was better place before 10 years. And now its getting murkier day by day. Just peep into your past and think that why no one is ready to come and play in Pakistan. Its not because of BCCI or ICC or XYZ, its the deterring condition of security in Pakistan. Though, the decision by Bangladesh is surely not welcoming, but you have no right to blame Bangladesh.
I am happy, I really dislike this game of cricket, it is the worst and the most time wasting sports that is only popular in backward countries like india and bangladesh. Pakistan should shift its attention more towards a true international game which is football.
Dont want to watch Bangladesh play cricket anyhow
Another Bangladeshi twist. Keep the Pakistani players away from the Bangladesh premier league and compensate them for non- participation. Null the support for Mustafa Kamal's ICC vice presidency ambitions.
Move on PCB please.
No need to get all "Het Up" . The Bangladeshis have only POSTPONED the Tour and have NOT Cancelled it. . As such I am sure that the Tour will be delayed by a Month or Two. . Cheers
Surprised at the Bangladesh non-participation. We are a peaceful nation with cities like Karachi, Quetta, Peshawar, Gilgit, recognised by the world as full of peace loving people and Lahore lawyers are lovable friends. The welcome ceremony arranged by Qadri, Hafiz Saeed, Bunnu escapees, long bearded Mullahs become a total waste.
Surprise Surprise!
The real pain is not that Bangladesh is not visiting. The real issue is that they first agreed to play and later refused. It sounded more like mocking Pakistan. And now with this episode, Pakistan should forget about international cricket on its land for a few more years.
Ask the TTP or Lashkar-e-Tayyaba cricket teams to play with us.
@Lala Gee: "Must be some Indian stooge filing the petition."
It's just another brotherly ummah country putting reason and love of life over ummah. You want Bangladesh to come to Pakistan, fix your sorry mess.
target killing in karachi target killing in quetta target killing in gilgit people are going abroad law and order situation at its worst level how would you expect any one to come and play here and by the way
jan sab ko piyari hoti hai
well it's good for pakistan and bad for B'desh Cricket. Pakistan is top quality cricketing nation they must maintain it's standrad and countinue to play with top quality teams like S'Africa,England or Australia,
@Subroto Mukherjee:
"Why blame India for all your misery?"
Because this is what enemies are supposed to do. You personally may be a good person, but today I have read a few stories and comments on Times of India website, and the kind of language, extreme hatred, and malevolence shown by 99.99% of Hindu commentators about Pakistan, Muslims and Islam is unparalleled. Even the Prophet Mohammad was not spared of their malice, and, in doing so, they didn't even care for their own 150 million Muslim countrymen. No wonder Kashmiris don't want to live with India, and Bengalis still hate you.
"This should be a wake-up call for you, my dear friends, and stop dreaming. Ask your buinesspeople, particularly those dealing in textiles. No Western buyer wants to come to Pakistan. Buyers would rather meet Pakistani executives in Dubai or India (frankly, India does not want Pakistanis to enter its soil)."
We, not the leaders, are neither sleeping, nor dreaming, and know what is happening behind the scenes. Had you not been hostile with Pakistan since Independence, we wouldn't have been in this state today. Even today your clandestine support for terror operations in FATA, Baluchistan and elsewhere is causing this mayhem in Pakistan. Think who else can finance and arm TTP and BLA terrorists. Whose interests were served by attack on Sri Lankan team.
Look of how obvious is the deep-rooted enmity in "frankly, India does not want Pakistanis to enter its soil". And enemies do what enemies do.
I am dissapointed but cannot blame the banglas. The sad fact is that even our ministers attend rallies of banned outfits and anyone with common sense would probably think twice before coming
@khurram ahmed: ICC has been very supportive to Pakistan. It is for us to admit that Pakistan is not safe and has not been very safe. Do you remember Sri Lankan team was targeted by the terrorists?? Recovering from that was always going to be tough, stop thinking that the whole world is against you and let us try to solve our problems instead of brushing them under the carpet and looking for scapegoats.
lol, Bangladeshi brothers become "shame shame" in a matter of seconds. This is Pakistan for you, you don't ask you brothers for 'return favors' or don't go out of the away and start calling them brothers. This whole episode reflects very well ...most things wrong with the pakistani society, lack of trust, respect for others, insecurity, irrational thinking and blaming India for our shortcomings. Once something goes wrong for whatever reason we lose all self-respect, start blaming/abusing and burning things down like what is happening here but just online.
Bangladesh high-court has done a favor to Pakistan in a number of ways.
Firstly, it is possible the players would have declined to come, causing more embarrassment to Pakistan. Secondly, the situation is worse than 2009, and God forbids if anything untowardly happens, PCB won't be able to convince any team at least for a decade. And lastly, this decision, along with many other embarrassing ones, may help put some sense in improving the security situation in the country. Therefore, here: Thank you Bangladesh Hight-Court.
So all the Pakistanis who were thanking Bangladesh are now letting out hate comments! they deserve to ensure their security, nobody wants to die, how can we be so ignorant? Pakistan is not safe, don't we know people are dying everywhere in Pakistan from Karachi to Gilgit in ethnic and sectarian violence and violence in the name of religion. Why do we want to live in denial, stop being so selfish, Pakistanis and have some common sense, what will India achieve by stopping Bangladesh from touring Pakistan? Why bring India into it in the first place? Just ridiculous but not unexpected.
Bangladesh has become true Indian puppet. I appreciate the efforts of Mr. Zaka Ashraf but in this situation they should move forward and announce boycott to any Pak Bangla cricketing ties in future unless Bangladesh visits Pakistan first. This is too much from Bangladesh. Have some self respect and boycott any cricketing ties with Bangladesh.
Please can any one explain what Pakistan did for Bangladesh & Sri Lanka cricket as so many claim made by some commentator.
What a beautiful back-foot push to the OFF side from Bangladesh...........Pakistan keep bowling short to them and they will keep on playing the same shot every time..... Its time to accept the fact that the odds are too many for the tour to go through and we should just throw off the possibility now. Tnx to the GOVT. and Media......!!!
@Babar: Where it is Mentioned , India played any role in this ? Why this Kolaveri ?
@Zeta: They are legit because you say they are? Do you have any facts that suggest that? A review of the Bdesh papers show significant opposition to their players going to Pakistan so this petition is not surprising.
The Sri Lankan team had also been promised "presidential security". The moment the terrorists attacked, the security ran for their lives.
@ imran:
You want Bangladesh to put their lives in jeopardy for returning the favor?
This is a pity. However, we must congratulate Mr. Ashraf for his valiant efforts to bring international cricket back to Pakistan. We should not force the BCB to send their team; they have made their move. I believe it is our move now, and it might be time the PCB suspend any and all cricketing involvement with the BCB. Agreed, a feeling brimming with bitterness. However, I support any decision the PCB ultimately decides to take. To repeat the comments of others before me, when we support Bangladesh we get no support back; with thousands of Bangladeshi immigrants in Pakistan at the moment, it is confusing to see what the problem is.
2,000 policemen on the route and 1,200 at the stadium. Do not worry! the police were never meant for the protection of people of Pakistan. The people of Pakistan have to defend themselves as always. This God forsaken country will never learn.
Thank You TB (Talibans)
@Indian: Concerns regarding the indian influence on BCB are legit. Stop trolling, no one is blaming agencies here.
stop moaning arround now dts true why shud someone visit wn u cant even protect your military head quarter? bangladesh has taken good decision we are at the moment not a responsible nation ..
Now cricket tours will be decided by courts... 2ndly lotus kamal back stabbed PCB.... it was bound to happen as soon as lotus secure the post of VP ICC with PCB vote in his pocket.... We made fool off ourselves by creating all this hype & letting the bengali's think that they are top class world team....
@Babar: What does India have to do with Bangladeshi court order? Stop mix INDIA/RAW/CIA/MOSSAD in every bad news. I want Bangladesh to visit Pakistan and I want India-Pak series to start again but plz don't blame your problems on India.
so much for being the tigers eh?.. Bangladesh are bunch of cowards really Pakistan should severe ties with them for taking Pakistani cricket fans on emotional joy ride.
and those saying indians have no involvement. surely they are mistaken as BD's PM is highly pro india and has her stooges in the board as well.
A great decision by bangladeshi High court. Last week dozens of terrorists attacked a secured jail . What will happen if dozens of terrorist attack kadhafi stadium Lahore Pakistan ?
Once again ICC/ Indian Lobby works against Pakistan.
@ cautious and shahid could'nt agree with you more.... Bangladesh is still a good friend to Pakistan and they have thier right to come or not to come. Pak Bangladesh relationships are much wider and bigger than this event.
Nothing to cry about. When the Life & Property of your Citizens are not safe then how can you guarantee their Safety.
We deserve it.Three cheers for the PPP..
back stabbed once back....
@Baber dont blame any one , we are not good
Take a deep breath -- can you really blame someone for being concerned about their safety in Pakistan. As the complaint says - no other international team will play in Pakistan so what makes Bangladesh any different?
So, if Pakistan has any self respect left ( if and only if), they should cancel this tour themselves with a pledge that Pakistan will never tour Bangladesh and no Pakistani will play in their premiere league. Period. Then get whatever away tours are available and try to bring up Pakistan Premiere League (PPL) even if they are only local players. We can polish talent with PPL and then they can go overseas to compete.
As far as BD is concerned, they have gotten too presumptuous after Asia cup even though, they are not such a good team and get whitewashed in home and away series, just look at their record.
Come next season of BPL and the BCB will file a petition against the High court in the Supreme Court saying that our multi million dollar tournament has gone bankrupt due to lack of sponsors as no Pakistani player is playing in the tournament :) .... Jaisa karoge waisa bharoge mere Bengali dosto :)
Patience everyone! could be a blessing in disguise. Lets accept it security situation in our country is far from perfect at the moment. We cant afford another untowards incidence.
to all the skeptics from "aman ki asha bigotry" Pakistan is safer than 2009.....We have 500% reduction in bomb blasts and similar attacks....this year uptil now in 110 days no bomb attack has happened in punjab....!!!!!!!
@C. nandkishore who writes "This is too much. The Honourable court has no business to interfere. This is a executive decision, not a legal one."
Read the article. The court did not intervene. It was in response to a petition.
And RAW is involved in this. Like Pakistanis are saying RAW is paying the petitioners.
First there is no need to worry secondly Pakistan should also cut its relation of cricket to BD immediately.
I am surprised at some comments of Indian hand for cancellation of this tour which is rather far fetched. Some recent statements by TTP to attack high profile targets due to opening of NATO supplies appears to be major factor behind this decision.
I agree dont come, the present Goverment and setup can not provide any security to its own citizens.
We have waited 4 years please wait for another 1 year, as we can not expect any good news from our DEMOCRATIC GOVT.
We did too much for bangladesh and srilanka but that asian block had always let us down. the public opnion in Bangladesh is also against touring Pakistan. I've got a feeling that such thing would never happened had we be the part of "Gora" Block instead of this is called "Brown" Block. The sense of muslims brotherhood is no-where which we always cry for. now be practical and realize that national interest comes first. hopefully things will improve in pakistan because no pains and gains are permanent in this temporary world and we'll be on top again and that will be time to serve vengence with cold blooded manner to bangali cricket fans. Pakistan Zindabad
Wise move by Bangladesh. With more than 500 hardened Islamic convicts on the loose from Bannu prison, it would be extremely risky for them to tour. After all, more than diplomacy the lives of the cricketers is more important. No captain in his right mind would want his lads to risk their lives for a game.
common pcb take back your recommendation of bangladeshi chief for icc , now show htem what they are
Well Played..!! We have thought Every one and how to use Courts Shoulder.
If this kind of embarrassment we have to face in bringing the other teams in PAKISTAN then let them go........approach to international court of justice!!! "aman ki asha" has been exposed badly!!
I find it hilarious that Pakistanis are accusing the 'Indian hand' in this. I didnt know India controlled the Bangladeshi judiciary.
Open your eyes people, Bangladesh is no longer your province and is completely capable of taking its own decisions. If you actually had tabs on their media, the decision made by BCB was outrightly criticized in the papers. So this petition is not very surprising. Dragging India into it is just being simply naive and ignorant.
A country of blasphemers, sectarian killers and Hafiz Saeeds deserve this. Even Bangladesh coach shocked at the decision of the team to visit Pakistan.
@Baba Ji: Bangladesh has fear to loose the match wrost in the history ...thats why
What about 1000s of Bengalis living in Pakistan? Why dont they feel the same security threat?? They should be voicing against this act, as baseless ...
No point in just blaming India, there is a lot of hatred in Bangladesh for Pakistan, which is really sad!
Pakistanis should stay cool. Cancellation of two cricket matches should not harm our brotherly relations. Its such an ordinary thing that nobody should care about it. If they don't want to come, so be it. They will come some other time. Whats the big deal in it.
I think Ms.HASINA WAJID behind this she till not forget 1971 SHE has hate for PAKISTAN AND PAKISTANIS.*The day soon comes when B'DESH want to tour PAKISTAN nd v say "NO THXS"*
We cannot afford to loose in Pakistan, simple is that, how many slaps we will bear from Pakistan since our creation. Good job Bangladesh High Court.
There is a huge possibility that India is involved in this. But Bangladesh made a very wrong move here. Would pay a heavy price for it and so will India. What goes around, comes around.
Wow, since when have the bengaliz starting thinking they're a world level team?
I guess, a pure lunatic would be ready to come to Pakistan for sport event. We are living in pool's paradise but the rest of the world has no such allusion. They watch elecronic and preint media and have very clear picture of what we are not saying. They prepare their youngs than politics over cricket.
Thank God, this cannot bring any further potential damage to our country! Pakistan is not safe at all, and we don't need further embarrassment. We all know how woefully incompetent our security forces are. That's common sense, every Pakistani is aware of this. Thank God.
What a Pity , like Seriously !!
This is too much. The Honourable court has no business to interfere. This is a executive decision, not a legal one. The same is the case with importing power from India. Both are executive decisions. Hope courts do not interfere in areas in which they are not supposed to. Tomorrow if both Pak and India decide to withdraw from Siachen the courts can't interfere. These are executive decisions.
this kind of acts are making mockery of both countries.
BD high court kindly also require more than 3 million bengalis living in Pakistan illegaly to head back. I am sure its as unsafe country for them as it is for your cricket players.
Atleast this would save us from mess created by their sugarcane machines all around Karachi and electricity they steal to run the machines.
One can not help heads which are sick and CJ BD high court you and petitioner are sick.
I simply don't understand our cricket board. Even if a team like Bangladesh visits Pakistan that will not influence anyway on the stance of England, Australia, South Africa etc. We should accept the fact that law and order is an issue here and till the situation improves we should continue palying on neutral venues. PCB must stop begging BCB.
They fear that we will be defeated again by us and they not remember that what we did for them in Cricket we give the rights to come in Test cricket.
A big Thank you to Bangladeshi High Court. Whoever is asking for international teams to visit Pakistan are insane .. They don't realize the fact that there is no security for any one anywhere in the country at the moment, If any incident like attack on Sri Lanka team happened we will have to forget about cricket in Pakistan for many decades then. At the moment its better to wait for a couple of more years till situation normalizes and peace is restored in the country. People are hungry to watch cricket in Pakistan and PCB should take advantage of this by introducing EPL style tournament between different regions and departments which will not only be a healthy competition but will also further promote cricket in Pakistan where they can hunt for more talented players.
shame shame shame!!!
Shabaash ... now even Bangladesh too !!!
I just want to say one thing that in this present government with the blessing of the Noora league Pakistan's stature as a nation have gone down so much low that now we have to give this kind of importance to Bangladeshi cricket team..is this our fate...the nation of 1 hundred and eight million with pride of being Pakistani crushed each and every day by our rulers...is there any thing else we are waiting to see...For god sake.....wake uppppppp.....throw this goverment out and take back your respect...vote for PTI......these looters dont worry how an individual Pakistani feels...
huh, West Pakistan is bared to play series with East Pakistan....
Pakistan ---- ‘grave security concerns’ ! ----- says a 'Biradar' and fellow of the great 'ummah' ----- let Imran Khan and like take notice of what happens when terrorists and terror find supporters in the garb of modern, english speaking, visible on international circuits.
NOw when ICC has agreed to send their officials too the pro-Indian lobby in Bangladesh has become active to spoil Pak-Bangla relations..Pathetic!!
shame shame shame!
Muslim "Bhai Chara" at its best!
Presidential level of security doesnt mean much given what happened to Gen Zia and the attacks on Gen Musharraf and also the attack on Ex prime minister BBhutto. The bangladeshis best bet is to get off the team bus and walk on the road even though this is also not fool proof
shame on bangla. as expected. pakistan should have never supported them for their test cap and should have never supported their candidate for president of ICC.
Must be some Indian stooge filing the petition.
The statement below the pic should be "Bangladesh High court order" Instead of baloachistan.
Please wake up from after noon nap, please check the caption under picture. Balochistan High Court has nothing to do with it.
nothing to do here!
love silent diplomacy by India. This enemity will never end. Stop crap like Aman Ki Asha. Thanks