Pakistan remain positive over Asia Cup
The Bangladesh Cricket Board said on Thursday that the forthcoming home series against Sri Lanka will go ahead as planned after the BCB received the confirmation from the Sri Lankan authority during an International Cricket Council meeting in Dubai. BCB president Nazmul Hasan met his Sri Lankan counterpart Jayantha Dharmadasa during the meeting and discussed issues related to the series, which is scheduled for two Tests, three one-day internationals and two Twenty20 Internationals.
‘The SLC representatives have confirmed here today [Thursday] that the Sri Lanka team will tour Bangladesh as planned,’ Nazmul was quoted in a BCB statement as saying. ‘The standard security inspections and monitoring in regards to arrangements will continue side by side.’
Sri Lanka Cricket president Dharmadasa did not, however, sing the same tune. He said they will officially confirm the series only after a visit from security officials, who are expected to arrive in Bangladesh on January 13.
‘We have said we are touring and we have taken the FTP [into consideration], so the assurance is there,’ Dharmadasa told leading cricket website Cricinfo.
‘At the present time we can’t say we’re not going, and that’s what I told them [BCB]. We have two people going to assess the situation, because it’s changing day by day.’
The security inspection team will comprise former chief executive officer Ajit Jayasekara – an air commodore with the Sri Lanka Air Force – and vice-president Mohan de Silva, according to the Cricinfo report.
Incumbent CEO Ashley de Silva had earlier told the website that the board would make its final decision on the tour by January 15, with the team set to arrive in Bangladesh on January 24.
The BCB statement added that there was a discussion about the Asia Cup among Asian nations on the sidelines of the ICC meeting and that the event will be held in February-March in Bangladesh as decided earlier.
Pakistan, the reigning Asia Cup champions, said earlier said that they have reservations about playing in Bangladesh in light of the current political situation, which has seen more than 150 people killed in clashes between rival groups and police.
‘We have also received a positive response from the Pakistan Cricket Board regarding Pakistan’s participation in the Asia Cup,’ Nazmul said in the BCB statement.
‘The PCB has requested enhanced security measures for the cricket team during the Asia Cup and we have given our assurance of providing the same.’
Acting BCB chief executive Nizam Uddin Chowdhury added: ‘We have had a positive discussion [with Pakistan].
‘The PCB has requested additional security measures for the Pakistan team, which will be incorporated in our security plan. We have assured the PCB that their requirements will be fulfilled.
‘The PCB has also confirmed sending their representative for the security briefing scheduled in Dhaka on 20 January 2014.’
Meanwhile BCB media committee chairman Jalal Yunus said the issue of the ICC World Twenty20 did not come up in the ICC meeting as it was not an ICC executive meeting.
‘Two issues came up – the upcoming Sri Lanka tour and the forthcoming Asia Cup. The topic of the World Twenty20 2014 did not come up since the meeting was not between the executive directors,’ Jalal told reporters in Dhaka. ‘It will be discussed on January 25 in the ICC’s executive directors meeting.’
-With New Age input
