Security trumps cricket
Bangladesh Cricket Board's media and communications committee chairman Jalal Yunus (2nd from L) informs the press about the postponement of Pakistan's upcoming Bangladesh tour at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.Photo: STAR
Cricket in the sub-continent suffered another blow as the Bangladesh-Pakistan limited-overs series was postponed for an indefinite period.
The Pakistan cricket team were due to arrive in Dhaka tomorrow to play two Twenty20 internationals and five one-day internationals in Dhaka and Chittagong.
The BCB was all set to announce the name of the series title sponsor, the security measures and different home squads for the T20s and ODIs yesterday but those present at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur were in for a surprise.
"Our preparations for Pakistan's tour to Bangladesh were in the final stages and the Pakistan cricket team were also ready to tour," said BCB media and communications committee chairman Mohammed Jalal Yunus at a press briefing.
"However, the concerned authority of the Bangladesh government advised us today to postpone the series for the time being. Accordingly the BCB has deferred the series.
"A suitable new itinerary will be announced as early as possible," added Jalal.
"The ICC has also requested us to prepare a revised security plan for Pakistan's tour of Bangladesh and the BCB is working on it."
The media committee chief also said that the BCB was in talks with the Pakistani authority on preparing a fresh schedule.
It was learnt that the Pakistan Cricket Board had also wanted to know about their security plans and which force would be in charge.
Pakistan's cricket is the long-lasting sufferer due to terrorist attacks in the country as foreign teams have opted not to tour there, followed by ICC's decision to pull out the ICC Champions Trophy.
Dhaka was the scene of a bloody mutiny last week by Bangladesh Rifles soldiers that left 74 people, including 56 army officers, dead.
The postponement was announced two days after gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team in the Pakistani city of Lahore in which seven Sri Lankan players and the team's assistant coach were injured and eight were killed.
Sri Lanka were on their second leg of a tour to Pakistan to play two Tests, believing that sportsmen would not be under terrorist attacks but that hope has now vanished too.
Meanwhile, PCB official Saleem Altaf told AFP yesterday that Bangladesh have conveyed their decision to them without giving any reason.
But he added: "We are told they are revising the tour itinerary and the series will be held after some delay."
The PCB chairman Ijaz Butt later told a news conference that Bangladesh will submit a revised plan later.
"Every country discusses the security situation with its government. We did ask for clearance for the tour from our government. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has asked them to implement a plan so they needed time.
"Bangladesh will come back to us and we (will) hopefully get a revised itinerary later."
Butt said he hopes to play the New Zealand series at home but added it was too early to say anything definite about the November-December tour.
"I would love to host them," said Butt. "Now it's up to the security situation in Pakistan and we will discuss other options as well."
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