FICA raises red flag over Bangladesh tour of Pakistan

Melbourne: The Federation of International Cricketers Association has described Bangladesh`s decision to tour Pakistan for an ODI and a Twenty20 match as "chaotic and contradictory", saying players` safety should not be put at risk to "enhance someone`s political or other aspirations".

Bangladesh, in the last week of April, would be the first Test-playing team to tour Pakistan after the 2009 terror attack on the Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore. "As the peak body of player associations, of which the Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) is a full member, FICA considers the matter of player safety as paramount in the consideration of whether any Event or series should proceed," May said. "This decision of whether Bangladesh should tour Pakistan needed to be a concise and transparent process. Unfortunately all we have witnessed is seemingly a complete lack of any process and a series of indecisive and contradictory comments, particularly coming from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Mustafa Kamal," he added. "The actions and words of Mr Kamal certainly give the impression of confirming rumors that there has been a deal reached between Pakistan Cricket Board and Mr Kamal, that PCB will nominate Mr Kamal for the position of ICC Vice President if Bangladesh agrees to tour Pakistan." Kamal, following the March security delegation visit to Pakistan, confirmed that Bangladesh would send a team there. After his return to Bangladesh, Kamal retracted and was reported to have stated that it would only send a team to tour Pakistan, if the ICC would send neutral umpires. Following this PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf stated that "the PCB will review it`s relation with Bangladesh if they refuse to tour Pakistan." Later Kamal told the ICC Board that even if there were no neutral umpires, Bangladesh would tour Pakistan. But according to media reports in Dhaka, Kamal has retracted saying that Bangladesh would only send a team if the ICC sent neutral umpires. "What has resulted since has been a series of actions and comments that rather than reassure everyone of the safety of such a tour, only have created heightened apprehensions and doubts among players re the safety of the tour and the motives of those involved in the decision," May said. "The constantly changing positions from Mr Kamal about whether to send a team or not if the ICC decides not to send neutral umpires is hardly a sign of confidence that the BCB actually does believe that it is safe to tour," he added. "The players` safety, and the safety of the people around them, should be all that matters in this issue and the only factor taken into account when deciding whether to tour or not. Players` safety should not be put at risk to enhance someone`s political or other aspirations." May said Kamal should stay out of the decision-making in this case and BCB decide the matter. "The BCB President has a massive conflict of interest. The matter should not be decided by Mr Kamal alone, it should be a decision of the entire BCB Board- after all the directors of the Board will be exposed to a significant potential liability if issues arise during the tour," he said. "One would expect that a person who holds the responsibility of the BCB president and also of an ICC Director would address the conflict of interest and remove himself from any decision in this matter," he added. PTI