The Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) decision to cancel their tour of Pakistan left the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) fuming. BCB has refused to go by an earlier commitment to play a Twenty20 and a One-Day cricket match on Jan. 12 and 13 in Lahore.
Justifying its decision to cancel the tour of the Bangladeshi cricket team, the BCB has again referred to 2009 attack on Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore in which eight Pakistanis and six Sri Lankan players were injured after armed militants opened fire on a bus carrying Sri Lankan team. The BCB in a statement has said: “We have noticed the security situation in Pakistan has not improved, rather deteriorated.” Reacting to BCB’s decision to pull out at last minute, the PCB described the action as “inappropriate.”
In a veiled threat, the PCB has hinted to consider not sending Pakistani players for the 2013 edition of BPL (Bangladesh Premier League).
Though BCB has referred to an overall dismal security situation across Pakistan, however, they shall be more focused on the proposed venue of the matches, Lahore.
In my opinion Punjab’s chief minister should make all efforts to convince the BCB that all those involved, including those who financed or provided ideological/material support, in 2009 attack have been promptly caught, tried in courts and now are behind bars. He should also prevail upon the leadership in Bangladesh that in view of exemplary punishments meted out by Pakistani courts to the perpetrators of 2009 attack, no one now can even think to do such a terrible thing to a visiting sports team again.
It’s high time for Punjab’s government to come up with a convincing plan to let the BCB revisit its earlier decision not to play in Lahore. As we continue to curse the BCB, (cricket) ball is in our court. — Masood Khan, Jubail
Cancellation of cricket tour
