Fear pervades Pakistan tour

The Bangladesh cricketers are concerned about the proposed tour of Pakistan due to security fears.
"When all the teams have turned down the offer to tour Pakistan because of ongoing security concerns, then why are we showing interest?" questioned a national cricketer on condition of anonymity.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Sunday requested the government to send a security team to Pakistan to evaluate the security arrangements ahead of Bangladesh's tour planned for April, but the players believe that the board should talk with them first before making a decision, since it is their safety that is at stake.
"We are really concerned, especially our family members are very keen to know what is going on with this tour. You know we have been getting bad news almost every week from Pakistan. If I'm not wrong, an attack even took place on a naval air force base near Karachi's National Stadium, so how can you feel comfortable with this proposed tour," said another cricketer.
"It would be really nice if the board took the opinion of the cricketers which many countries have done," he added.
A senior member of the national team however wants to see what will actually happen in the end.
"It is true that security is a big issue when you think about a tour to Pakistan but I think it's too early to say anything right at this moment. Let's see what happens," he opined.
Sources close to the board informed that the foreign staff of the national team also harbours reservations about the proposed tour to Pakistan but they were also waiting for official confirmation before making a comment.
"I don't know what the reason is behind the tour but security must come first. How you can play cricket with fear in your mind?" queried another concerned player.
Since the attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in 2009, Pakistan has failed to persuade any Test team to visit their country and that's the reason the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is desperately looking to revive international cricket in their country with the visit of Bangladesh.
Pakistan has not hosted international cricket since 2009 as their team have been playing their 'home' series either in the United Arab Emirates or England or New Zealand.
The BCB however promised to send a security team when PCB president Zaka Ashraf visited Dhaka last month and after that news have been coming from Pakistan that they are all set to give full-proof security to the Bangladesh cricket team.
"Since we have a scheduled tour on the Future Tours Programme, that's why we promised to send a security team before making any decision. We are more concerned than the players about their security and safety. I think it's too early to say anything because we are yet to decide anything," said BCB's media committee chairman Jalal Yunus.