`I`m confident Bangla series will restore Intl cricket in Pak`

Lahore: Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Zaka Ashraf is confident that once Bangladesh tours Pakistan other teams will also be convinced to play in the country.

Ashraf told reporters that the Bangladesh security delegation that recently visited Pakistan to inspect security arrangements for their team which has been invited to play in the country in April had returned home satisfied. "They were shown all the security drills that would be in place for the series and after visits to Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi they returned home satisfied," Ashraf said. The Bangladesh Cricket board is due to confirm the tour in next few days but they apparently have asked the PCB to reduce the number of matches from the original itinerary of two Tests, three ODIs and a T20 match. The BCB will get back to the PCB after getting security clearance from their government. ICC has already said that since it is a bilateral series the two countries can appoint local officials for the matches. Ashraf said that the board was trying hard to restore some international cricket activities in Pakistan. "Inviting Bangladesh is the first step and once they come we can try to convince other teams to follow suit. I am confident that once this series is played international activities can be restored in Pakistan." Ashraf also defended the retention of Misbah-ul-Haq as captain for the Asia Cup in Bangladesh. "Misbah has been retained because he remains calm and cool under pressure and does not take pressure. His track record as captain is very good and we can`t change captains on basis of one or two bad results," he added. Ashraf said once the Asia Cup was over, the PCB would sit down with the team management and selectors and other stake holders to chalk out future course of action for the team. "It is disappointing the way we lost to England in the one-day series but this same team also won the test series convincingly. Misbah led the side well so we have confidence in him and I am sure the team will bounce back in Bangladesh." PTI