The Bangladesh Cricket Board officials put aside their Eid celebrations for few hours on Tuesday to engage themselves in cricket diplomacy as Pakistan Cricket Board president Shahryar Khan paid a short visit during the Eid-ul Azha holidays. Shahryar undertook the visit with an aim to renew cordial and cooperative relationship between the two boards that soured in early 2013 when Bangladesh shelved a planned tour on safety grounds.
Shahryar urged the BCB to send any team to Pakistan at the level of A teams, Under-19s, school team or women’s team as they seek to bring back international cricket following the deadly attack on Sri Lanka’s team bus in 2009.
‘We understand that security situation is a hurdle in the way of your national team, or any other team, visiting Pakistan,’ he told reporters on his arrival at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
‘But let me say that the security situation is much, much better,’ he added.
BCB president Nazmul Hasan and some other directors later met him at Hotel Radisson Water Garden and discussed about the bilateral issues.
The BCB reiterated its position that Bangladesh will tour Pakistan only when the ICC agrees to send its officials for the fixtures and proposed Pakistan to host its ‘home’ series in Bangladesh.
‘We didn’t talk much about lower-level teams but I spoke to him about the national team,’ Nazmul told reporters after his meeting with Shahryar. ‘We maintained that if the ICC can’t send match officials, we won’t send the team. I have clarified this from the start.’
‘Also, because we spoke for a very little time, we discussed the possibility of considering Bangladesh as a neutral venue, which will be cheaper for them.
‘It will improve our relationship. We have beautiful stadiums – all ICC-approved – so Bangladesh can be an option.’
Speaking after the meeting, Shahryar insisted Bangladesh could pick and choose where they want to play in Pakistan if the senior team should tour.
‘I have had a very positive and fruitful exchange with the BCB president and his colleagues,’ he said. ‘I endorse entirely what he has said. Let us see if we can move forward in various directions.
Shahryar, who returned as PCB chairman in August, said he wanted the relationship between the PCB and BCB to go back to how it was during his first term as board chairman – between 2003 and 2006.
‘Last time I was chairman, there was a great spirit of cooperation between Asian boards. We acted together, the four of us, regardless of political issues. We helped each other. The [BCB] president agreed with me that we need to revive the spirit.
The relationship between BCB and PCB took an all time low when Pakistan banned its players in the Bangladesh Premier League in retaliation for Bangladesh’s decision of shelving planned tour.
Shahryar regretted the decision saying he was not aware of it.
‘I was not aware that we had stopped sending our people here, which I personally think are regrettable. We will definitely put that right,’ he said.
BCB president Nazmul, however, said it does not matter whether Pakistan send their players in Bangladesh’s domestic competitions or not.
‘He said he will look into the matter [of sending Pakistan players for DPL and BPL]. I said we don’t have a problem even if they don’t come,’ said Nazmul.
-With New Age input
