PCB says Asia Cup participation pending further deliberation on Jan 9

Cricket board expects further discussion after "some members have consulted their governments."

LAHORE: Following news that the Asian Cricket Council had backed Bangladesh as hosts for next month's Asia Cup, the Pakistan Cricket Board said that the issue has been discussed at length but will be discussed further after "some members have consulted their governments."

"The matter of Asia Cup in Bangladesh was discussed at length with emphasis on the current security situation," a PCB spokesperson said.

"The matter will be further deliberated on January 9 in Dubai after some members have consulted their governments."

Bangladesh's hosting of the tournament was in danger following an outbreak of violent protests and strikes in the capital Dhaka ahead of Sunday's elections.

Asian cricket council backs Bangladesh

Asia's cricket chiefs met in Colombo on Saturday to review Bangladesh Cricket Board's detailed security plan for the upcoming tournament.

Following the meeting, the ACC chief executive Ashraful Haq announced that "The tournament will go ahead as scheduled in Bangladesh from February 25 to March 7. Everything is in place for the tournament, no one raised any issue about safety."

All 11 matches in the tournament will take place in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka.

The tournament will have the usual teams Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh. Afghanistan has also been included as the fifth team in the tournament.