The Pakistan government has assured top and intense security to a nine-member delegation from Bangladesh that has arrived to assess the country’s ability to resume hosting international cricket, three years after attacks on Sri Lankan players saw international cricket suspended. On March 3, 2009 gunmen ambushed the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore, killing eight Pakistanis and wounding seven visiting players and their assistant coach.
The attack suspended international cricket in the country, stripped Pakistan of its 2011 World Cup hosting rights and forced it to play home series at neutral venues in England, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates. Pakistan is planning to end that isolation by hosting Bangladesh for a limited-overs tour next month, with the Bangladesh delegation visiting over two days to check on security measures.
“We will give the full force which is the requirement,” interior minister Rehman Malik told Bangladesh Cricket Board president Mustafa Kamal here on Saturday. “From landing to departure and while staying in hotel or any movement within the country and of course the stadiums, they will all stand fully protected,” he added.
Kamal is heading the delegation which comprises top ranked officials from Bangladesh police, sports ministry and interior ministry. The delegation will visit Lahore and Karachi — the two tentative venues — to assess security measures before reporting back to their government.
“The interior minister has assured us that on the security threat perception whatever is needed will be taken care of if Bangladesh cricket team visits,” Kamal told reporters.
“We will have to report to the Bangladesh government for their decision. This is the first stage, once the first stage is completed then definitely we will know how things are taking place,” he added. The International Cricket Council (ICC) will send its own security delegation if Bangladesh confirmed next month’s proposed tour. “I am here with a positive mood of mind and hopefully we will be in a position to convince our ICC board members so that they also agree to play in Pakistan as early as possible,” Kamal said.
“Bangladesh recognises the fact that cricket in Pakistan is adored by everybody from north to south, by young or old, men or women, everybody adores cricket. It is in fact respected here as religion. That is very painful for Pakistan cricket lovers that for a long time cricket has not been played here,” he stated.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has planned to host Bangladesh for either three one-dayers or two plus a Twenty20, and the host cities remain negotiable. “What is important is that let them have look at all those arrangements which we are proposing,” Malik said. “I have also given him the prerogative that if he wants to add or subtract a city we will do it.”
PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf also attended the meeting at the interior ministry. “I am sure they will be fully satisfied with the security plan and when they go back home, they go back home fully satisfied,” Ashraf said.
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