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Bangladesh team was set to play a one-dayer on April 29 and a Twenty20 international the next day at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore in the first full international matches in Pakistan since March 2009, when Sri Lankan cricketers and officials were attacked by gunmen in Lahore. "Suspend the tour for four weeks," said an order issued today by a two-member bench responding to a petition challenging BCB`s decision to send the national team to Pakistan, where it was set to take part in two matches.
The High Court bench comprising judges Farid Ahmed and Sheikh Hassan Arif questioned the legality of decision to send Bangladesh cricketers on a short trip despite the security risks and ordered the Sports Ministry Secretary and chiefs of National Sports Council chief and BCB to justify the decision in the meantime. A Supreme Court lawyer and a private university professor challenged the decision citing security concerns as Pakistan Cricket Board was yet to provide a "security plan" for the Bangladesh team`s tour as demanded by International Cricket Council (ICC).
"Pakistan is not safe for any foreign teams now. Their own media including their English daily Dawn says so. For that reason, no country agrees to play there. Under the same circumstances, we should not go there also," the petition read. The sudden court development took the PCB by surprise and has now cast a shadow on whether the tour would take place at all. The PCB reacted with disappointment and concern after the High Court injunction order against Bangladesh team touring Pakistan later this month for a short series.
"It is astonishing to note that a matter lacking any legal issue has been dragged in the court by petitioners who appear to have vested interest and want to jeopardize the Pakistan-Bangladesh cricketing relations," the PCB said in a statement. "The matter before the court, prima facie, does not contain any legal issue and it is extremely disturbing to note for Pakistan Cricket Board and Pakistan cricket fans and the world cricketing nations that such an adverse order has been passed to block a bilateral cricket series. PCB has been extremely disappointed due to the creation of this new situation," the statement added.
The PCB had managed to get a confirmation from Bangladesh Cricket President Mustafa Kamal on Sunday leading to the announcement that Bangladesh would play a ODI and a Twenty20 International match in Lahore on April 29 and 30 respectively. Bangladesh would have been the first Test-playing nation to visit Pakistan since March 2009 when militants attacked the Sri Lankan team in Lahore killing six Pakistani policemen and a van driver and wounding five of the visiting players. The news of suspension of the tour by Bangladesh came just as the national selection committee was meeting in Lahore to announce the Pakistan team for the two matches.
TV channels quoted PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf as saying that he was extremely disappointed with the news from Bangladesh. "We are surprised that a purely cricketing matter has been dragged into the courts," Ashraf was quoted as saying. "We will give a detailed reaction later on. But it is a big setback for Pakistan cricket and fans who were ready to welcome the Bangladesh team," Ashraf said.
