Pakistan unlikely to release players for Bangladesh Premier League

Disappointed over Bangladesh’s decision to not visit Pakistan because of security concerns, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is now unlikely to send its players to the Twenty20 League there.

Bangladesh earlier showed willingness to tour Pakistan, but recently stepped back. No international side has visited Pakistan since the terrorist attack on Sri Lanka team, and PCB is trying hard to convince the international community for the resumption.

Despite ruling out tit-for-tat, the board in a statement has said that Bangladesh’s decision will affect the relations between the two boards. The statement states:

"Now for the 2013 edition of BPL, we have to see the commitments and engagements of our players before releasing them for the tournament. To associate the release (of) the Pakistani players with Bangladesh tour to Pakistan does not hold any merit."

Earlier, the head of PCB Zaka Ashraf reacted strongly to the announcement, made by Bangladesh. He described that Pakistan cannot force the Bengalis to tour, but clarified that his board will now review its relations.

"If they don’t want to come its their own decision and we didn’t force them. Now their own reputation is at stake. If they don’t want to respect their bilateral relationship then we will also respond in a same manner," he said.

Zaka added, "We will take a principled stance on BPL. but one thing is sure our players might not be free as we are making our own arrangements from next year."

The Green Shirts have been playing home series in UAE over the past few years. Bangladesh’s move has jolted the PCB badly, and the board has stated that it was inappropriate to call the security fears as the main reason of their decision.

“The decision to tour Pakistan is the sole prerogative of BCB. The recent cricket activity in Pakistan itself reflects that the atmosphere in Pakistan is congenial for any international team visit to the country," the statement said.

"Now it would only be proper for the new president of BCB to read the report submitted by that team or visit Pakistan before making any such comments on the Pakistan’s current situation," it added.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=36763

Posted by Rana Nasir Ghafoor on Jan 1 2013. Filed under Pakistan, Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry