Bangladesh's two-day tour of Pakistan, which was scheduled to take place on January 12 and 13, has been postponed on security grounds, informed Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan Papon in a press conference at a city hotel yesterday. Papon stated that the board would continue observing the security situation in Pakistan and would go ahead with the tour if the scenario in the country 'improves'.
“There is obviously a lot more risk and more tension in Pakistan as compared to the other countries and the law and order situation there hasn't improved much," said Papon. “Many people in Bangladesh have already raised their voices against the tour. Considering the prevailing conditions, touring Pakistan right now will not be a wise decision,” he added.
The BCB claimed to have sent a letter to the Pakistan Cricket Board four days ago informing of its decision. The president,
however, claimed that Bangladesh would stick to its commitment of touring Pakistan at a later stage.
“In the ICC board meeting, we committed ourselves to go to Pakistan. This is quite evident from the board meeting's minutes. It's unconditional. And it is clear that, even if the ICC doesn't provide match officials, we'll have to tour Pakistan, so it's almost mandatory,” Papon said.
The consequences of the decision could prove to be costly for the board as the Pakistan Cricket Board had earlier stated that it would not allow its players to play in the second edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 if Bangladesh decided against touring Pakistan. Papon though, was aware of the possible ramifications of the board's decision and described the verdict to be an 'extremely difficult' one.
“It's not only BPL. But even apart from BPL we may not get Pakistan's support in various issues in the future. We know the consequences. I am not blaming Pakistan. If we were in Pakistan's place then we
probably would have reacted in the same way,” said Papon.
With regard to the possi-ble 'pullout' of the Pakistani players from the BPL, Afzalur Rahman Sinha, chairman of the BPL Governing Council said, “This is a very sensitive issue. But I think the situation is well understood by everyone. The absence of Pakistani players will obviously be a big loss, but no one is indispensable and we will have to continue with the league even if Pakistan doesn't send their players.”
“There are lots of pro-
tests around the country against the tour of Pakistan. If we go to Pakistan, people will criticise us. On the other hand, if the Pakistani players don't come to the BPL, we'll again be criticised. So it's actually a very sensitive issue,” added Sinha.
The PCB and BCB have for some time now been discussing a short tour of Pakistan that would mark the return of international cricket to the country following the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in March 2009.
Bangladesh were supposed to play three ODIs and two Tests in Pakistan in
August 2010. That tour however was postponed due to security concerns. The boards had then agreed upon a tour in April last year, when the two teams were scheduled to meet on the 29th and 30th.
That series was postponed on April 19 after the Dhaka High Court ruled in favour of a four-week ban on the tour. Following that episode, the teams were supposed to meet in Lahore on January 12 and 13, to play a One Day International and a T20 International. That arrangement, however, got postponed yesterday.