Pakistan Cricket Board’s Interim Management Committee’s Chairman Najam Sethi. PHOTO: ONLINE
On January 4, Asia’s cricket chiefs had said violence-plagued Bangladesh would remain the venue for next month’s Asia Cup. “The tournament will go ahead as scheduled in Bangladesh from February 25 to March 7,” Asian Cricket Council chief executive Ashraful Huq had told AFP after an executive board meeting in Colombo.
All 11 matches in the tournament will take place in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka as planned, despite the violence that has plagued the city in the build-up to Sunday’s general elections.
Sethi added that West Indies U-19 tour to Bangladesh was also cancelled because of security reasons.
The caretaker chairman also revealed that the Sri Lankan government has decided to send its cricket team to Bangladesh despite the unrest in the country.
He further said that reservations regarding the security of the Pakistan cricket team will be discussed at the International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting on January 9 in Dubai.
PCB top officials are not getting support from any of their counterparts as they seek a change in venue for the Asia Cup and the ICC World Twenty20 due to security apprehensions in Bangladesh learnt The Express Tribune.
The board desires a change in venue for the Asia Cup and the World Twenty20 events amid the anti-Pakistan sentiments in Bangladesh, where scores have died in the lead-up as well as on the Election Day.
However, the PCB has thus far failed to drum up requisite support from either Asian Cricket Council (ICC) or the ICC. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is supporting the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) despite the unrest.
COMMENTS (15)
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@Shamima:
By your theory..........Whole cricketing world should send teams to AFGHANISTAN and PAKISTAN, as well, as security onus is on the respective country security apparatus but unfortunately it does not matter in decision making..........In case of our "Bangladeshi Brothers" Supreme court decides about their international cricket tours.....LoL!
There were two options i.e. send a team or do not send a team. Now we went for option B of advocating in favour of not sending a team there so please whatever happened do not send it now. There will be some minor financial loses if we do not send a team so incur the losses to have atleast some face value atleast for the first time in last 6 years.
If pakistanies are secure in pakistan, then they will have no issue in BD, are your providing security to your player when they go back home.
Politics should be set a side. This is a matter of security and only that. If BD cricket board can convince PCB that security is adequate in response of the threat scenario facing Pakistani players then fine, otherwise stay home. The other boards are not motivated to cancel because the threats are not directed at them.
@Shamima: Whatever the case may be, unless a strong assurance is not received from Bangladeshi Government, we should not be putting our boys' security ahead of tournament itself. We can miss an Asia Cup or a T-20 WC but can't afford to have a potential tragedy or risk.
@goldconsumer: "Bangladesh has a better chance of winning" Even if Bangladesh is allowed 24 players, I would still doubt that.........Yes if Afghanistan,UAE,Hong Kong and China would be playing, then we can certainly say so. But not against India and Srilanka. Without Pakistan the Asia Cup will effectively be a bilateral series between India and Srilanka.
This is not a bilateral series but a multi-lateral one. Pakistan should go. The onus on security is on Bangladesh. If they are demonstrations then Pakistan can withdraw from the series or refuse to play their matches. Not going will only exacerbate tensions. There is plenty of support for the Pakistan cricket team as we have seen in the past. All Bangladeshis are not anti-Pakistani as Mrs.Wajed would have us believe.
This Sethi chap is against or for the motion?You would never know because of his 'unique' character. His interests lie deep.
Just don't go there simple as that. Let all teams play 11 matches on one lonely cricket ground out of all the cricket stadiums in the world. Lets enjoy bangladesh beating india in pool matches and then go on to face Srilanka in the finals............ and let have their whole nation cry like a baby and complain cause some bowler shoved with the bangladeshi batsman in the final overs.
Can only wish that PCB thinks of this nation's self respect and avoid sending team to this country. In past PCB made Pakistani team lose to Bangladeshis in world cup for their better status in international cricket saying we are proud to do this for our brothers only to let Pakistan humiliated by them when they said we took revenge of 1971
Couldn't agree more with Sethi sahib, our players security is supreme and we would and should not send them into hostile environment. Even if Pakistan doesn't participate in Asia Cup, its fine but until any solid assurance is not received from Bangladeshi government, we should not put our team's lives at risk.
Bangladesh has a better chance of winning if we stay out of the tournament. Lets do another favor to our brothers.
well done Sethi, show some respect for the country and stay at home. There is no point putting the player's safety in danger, just to please BCB.
Dear Sehti sb, don't you think this stance will weaken Pakistan's case of inviting foreign cricketers to play on our soil. After all, Bangladesh is no match to Pakistan when it comes to law and order situation.