Bangladesh has postponed its tour of Pakistan following a court order
that set a four-week embargo on the national team's plans. The decision,
communicated on Thursday to the PCB by the BCB's acting CEO Nizamuddin
Chowdhury, is the latest twist to a long-running saga that began last
December; the tour itself, comprising two limited-overs games, had been finalised last weekend to take place in Lahore at the end of April.
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| Bangladesh vs Pakistan cricket match |
The order came on a day when Pakistan said it had sent a 70-page security plan
for the tour to the ICC and announced details of match tickets that
were to have gone on sale next week. The events that followed will have
added to doubts over whether the tour will indeed go ahead at all.
The PCB reacted sharply to the news. "It is astonishing to note that a
matter lacking any legal issue has been dragged in the court by
petitioners who appear to have vested interest and want to jeopardise
Pakistan-Bangladesh cricketing relations," the statement said.
"It is extremely disturbing to note for the PCB and Pakistan cricket
fans and world cricketing nations that such an adverse order has been
passed to block a bilateral cricket series."
The court order, delivered by Justices Farid Ahmed and Sheikh Hasan Arif
on Thursday afternoon, was in response to a writ petition filed in the
morning by a university teacher and a Supreme Court lawyer who, citing
concerns over security, challenged the BCB's decision to send the team
at the end of April for a three-day tour.
It also said that in the interim period the sports secretary, the
National Sports Council chief and BCB chief Mustafa Kamal justify the
decision for the tour.
Azim, one of the lawyers for the petitioners, said: "The ICC asked for a
security plan from PCB. They have still not given it. Pakistan is not
safe for any foreign teams now. Their own media says so. For that
reason, no country agrees to play there. Under the same circumstances,
we should not go there also."
The petition echoes the prevailing public sentiment surrounding the tour
since it was first announced. The mood against the tour - which has
been called short-sighted and opportunistic, at the cost of players'
safety - grew following the confirmation of dates on Sunday. The tour,
of immense importance to Pakistan, is widely seen as a quid pro quo for
Kamal getting the Pakistan-Bangladesh joint nomination for the ICC
vice-presidency; with the latter in almost certain cold storage, the
tour has become an even more complex issue. Kamal's own flip-flops on
issues relating to the tour have added to the confusion.
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| This stadium will host for Bangladesh Pakistan matches |
Adding to the complexity
is the security angle. The ICC's stated stand is that it has no role in
clearing tour; its remit extends to checking to see whether its
officials can be deployed. It has, however, scripted its own escape
clause by introducing a "special dispensation" that would allow
non-neutral officials where the situation did not allow for neutrals.
The security issue prompted the Federation of International Cricketers'
Associations (FICA) to issue a strongly worded statement against the
tour.
"This decision of whether Bangladesh should tour Pakistan needed to be a
concise and transparent process," FICA CEO Tim May said. "Unfortunately
all we have witnessed is seemingly a complete lack of any process and a
series of indecisive and contradictory comments, particularly coming
from Mustafa Kamal.
"The actions and words of Kamal certainly give the impression of
confirming rumors that there has been a deal reached between the PCB and
Kamal … What has resulted since has been a series of actions and
comments that rather than reassure everyone of the safety of such a
tour, only have created heightened apprehensions and doubts amongst
players re the safety of the tour and the motives of those involved in
the decision."
I am a Pakistani and i Feel very Bad after reading this news. I wish to see this match in Lahore/Pakistan. But Now it is not Possible. Hope it will visit next time.
ReplyDeleteI am a Bangladeshi and I feel mixed feelings. Of course it will be good for both teams to prove themselves, esp. for Pakistan to upright their political images worldwide.
ReplyDeleteBangladesh Government still thinks that Pakistan is still insecure for foreign players to play. we are waiting for the game..
Bangladesh is a good team and now they have proved themselves as an International team by qualifying for the Asia cup final. Pakistan is a strong team. Now this a good lesson for not only Pakistan government but for all people from pakistan to take steps to attain peace and security in their country.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletePakistan should not be disappointed on Bangladesh tour cancelled and should not react abruptly.They should continue the way it is going on. Pakistan should improve the security measures. They should built five star type accommodation adjacent to the stadium with underground path from their residence to the ground. They should try to invite big names of International cricket to take part in our Premier cricket league tournament. It'll be better for them to try to invite minor countries teams. Once these foreign teams and players satisfied with their security systems, they will spread confidence in other teams and players. Let them resolve all their matters with Indian cricket board.Remember after all cricket is the game of common people of this sub continent.
ReplyDeleteLAHORE: Bangladesh's cricket tour of Pakistan later this month has been delayed by four weeks by a Bangladesh court after a legal challenge.
ReplyDeleteBangladesh had agreed to play a one-day international and a Twenty20 match on April 29 and 30 in what would have been the first full internationals in Pakistan since March 2009 when Sri Lankan cricketers and officials were attacked by gunmen in Lahore.
"The court by an order has restrained the Bangladesh government and the Bangladesh Cricket Board from going ahead with the national cricket team's tour to Pakistan for four weeks," said lawyer Hasan Azim, representing the two people who challenged the tour citing security concerns.
University lecturer Didarus Salam and a senior Supreme Court lawyer Kamal Hossain had jointly filed a petition in the Dhaka High Court earlier on Thursday, seeking an adjournment of the tour and asking why it should not be declared illegal.
Foreign teams have shunned Pakistan since the 2009 attack, which killed six Pakistani policemen.
Several Sri Lankan players were wounded in the incident, which also led to matches at the 2011 World Cup being taken away from Pakistan.
Since then, Pakistan have had to play their "home" matches at neutral venues.
Pakistan officials said they were surprised and disappointed by Thursday's court ruling.
"We are surprised that a purely cricketing matter has been dragged into the courts," PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf said.
"We are deeply disappointed and sad that Bangladesh is not coming after confirming the tour last week.
"It is a big setback for Pakistan cricket and Pakistani cricket fans who were ready to welcome the Bangladesh team." Ashraf said the PCB had made a comprehensive security plan for the tour and sent it to the International Cricket Council for approval. PCB's chief operating officer, Subhan Ahmed, told Reuters that if the four-week delay was enforced then Pakistan would not be able to host Bangladesh due to other commitments