Bangladesh give thumbs up to security measures in Pakistan

Lahore: The PCB is confident that Bangladesh will tour the country next month for a one-day series after a high-level security delegation of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) expressed satisfaction over the security arrangements put in place for the visiting team.

BCB president Mostafa Kamal, the head of the delegation which inspected security arrangements in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore before returning home told reporters on Sunday that he was satisfied with the safety measures. "We`re satisfied with the security arrangements," he said at joint press briefing with PCB chairman, Zaka Ashraf. "We`d like to send our team to Pakistan because we want to see international cricket back in Pakistan soon," Kamal added. No Test playing nation has toured Pakistan since March, 2009 after militants attacked the Sri Lankan team in Lahore killing six Pakistani policemen and a van driver. The BCB delegation will give its feedback to its government and board members after which a formal decision would be taken on Bangladesh team tour to Pakistan. During the visit, the delegation met government officials in Islamabad, including interior minister Rehman Malik and also assessed facilities and security plans in Karachi. Kamal made it clear that Bangladesh wanted to help revive international cricket in Pakistan. "Pakistan have helped us a lot in promoting cricket in our country. Our players have learnt a lot from their cricketers and their presence in the Bangladesh Premier League made the event a success," he said. But even if the BCB clears the tour, both the boards will have to wait for a formal clearance from the ICC, which might also send its own security delegation to assess the situation in Pakistan. PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf also said that he was hopeful about ICC`s give a green signal to the series. "We are looking forward to all out support from the ICC for this proposed series." he said. Ashraf said he had already held discussions with ICC officials on the issue. "I think what happened in 2009 was a tragedy but we have learnt our lessons and the security situation has also gradually improved in Pakistan," he added. PTI