PCB official to gauge Bangladesh security

Board to send representative to assess situation at ICC meeting on Jan 20.

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reiterated concerns over safety of the players in Bangladesh that is scheduled to host the Asia Cup and the ICC World Twenty20 from next month.

On Tuesday, the PCB shared a letter which it notified was sent to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) to clarify its position regarding the team’s participation in the Asia Cup.

The PCB’s Interim Management Committee Chairman Najam Sethi wrote:

“After the ACC meeting, I saw a lot of media statements from various quarters, especially the ACC Chief Executive [Ashraful Huq], which tend to suggest that PCB, along with other participating countries, does not have any reservations regarding Pakistan team’s participation in the Asia Cup in Bangladesh.

“This is obviously contrary to the position conveyed by our Chief Operating Officer Subhan Ahmad at the ACC meeting.”

Security official to attend ICC meeting

Sethi further wrote that the PCB will send its own security official at the ICC meeting later this month to review the security situation and arrangements in the troubled country.

“The PCB does have reservations on the prevailing security situation in Bangladesh with specific reference to Pakistan.

“Indeed, that is why the PCB has decided to send its security representative to Bangladesh to attend the ICC security meeting on January 20 to assess the situation there and report back.

“The PCB’s position regarding Pakistan team’s participation in Asia Cup 2014 in Bangladesh is that we are naturally keen to participate but will continue to assess the conditions, liaise with our government and follow its advice with regards to the security situation.

“Our participation would be dependent upon the reports that we receive in this regard.”

It may be mentioned that Huq, in an interview following the ACC meeting on Saturday, said that no member board has any concerns on security in the host country.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 8^th, 2014.

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