Bangladesh wait on Pakistan clearance
Bangladesh will wait for security clearance from the International
Cricket Council (ICC) before confirming they will tour Pakistan next
month for a two-match series, their top official said Saturday.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf had said that the
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had announced their intention to tour,
making them the first team to visit the country since a terrorist attack
on the Sri Lankan squad in 2009.
“We were in constant touch with the BCB officials and they have
conveyed to us that the tour is confirmed,” Ashraf told AFP.
“They have also got approval from their board members and we are in
touch for the schedule.” However, Nazmul Hassan, the BCB president, said
later Saturday that the decision is still “two to four days” away as
they await a security assessment by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
“In my opinion, we can reach a final decision in the next two to four
days,” Hassan told the BBC Bangla Service.
“We will ask the ICC to complete their security assessment for match
officials and the moment they finalise their stance, we can give our
confirmation.
“It will somewhat depend on the ICC's decision. We need to know their
security assessment. Our security team that had gone to Pakistan said
the security is adequate.” Foreign teams have shunned playing in
Pakistan since gunmen opened fire on a convoy in Lahore, killing eight
people and leaving seven Sri Lankan players and their assistant coach
injured.
The attack pushed Pakistan into a cricket exile as the national team
was forced to play their home series at neutral venues in the United
Arab Emirates, New Zealand and England.
Ashraf said the best security arrangements will be put in place for
the Bangladesh team.
“We will soon co-ordinate with the provincial governments and put in
place the best arrangements for the tour and I am pretty confident that
the tour will take place in the best possible manner and pave (the) way
for more teams to come,” said Ashraf.
Bangladesh earlier this week said they will play a Twenty20 and a
one-dayer on January 12 and 13 respectively, both in Lahore.
The team had agreed to tour Pakistan in April this year but the event
was blocked by Dhaka high court. |