BCB likely to inform PCB about one-day series on Thursday

Lahore: The Bangladesh Cricket Board is likely to inform the Pakistan cricket Board on Thursday about the fate of the one-day series planned in Pakistan later this month.

PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf ON Wednesday said that BCB had left the decision in the hands of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajid. "We contacted them to find out what is happening and they said their PM will now decide whether to send the Bangladesh team to Pakistan or not," Ashraf said. He said the PCB had on its part done everything to satisfy the BCB and its security delegation that their players would be well looked after in Pakistan if they played the series this month. Pakistan has invited Bangladesh to play three ODIs later this month. If Bangladesh agrees to come, they will become the first Test playing nation to visit Pakistan since the March, 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore by Islamic militants. Ashraf said when Pakistan first extended the invitation to the BCB, their attitude was very positive and encouraging. "But after the Asia Cup final they appear to have lost interest. So now to us it seems that there is a 50-50 chance of this series taking place. Even if they don`t come we are not going to lose heart that is for sure about reviving international cricket in Pakistan," Ashraf said. He said the purpose of inviting a team from the United Kingdom made up of players of British Universities was to show the world it was secure to play in Pakistan. "That is the reason we have got the two matches this British team will play televised," he said. He said Pakistan was also moving forward with its intent to launch the Pakistan Premier League this year and would soon be given presentations by some companies. "We are striving hard to revive international cricket in Pakistan and some of our former players are also assisting us by talking to players from different countries if they would be interested in joining a World eleven tour to Pakistan." PTI