Thaindian News

Karachi, April 23(ANI): The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that the national team will go on a full-fledged tour to Bangladesh in December-January.

The tour is part of the Future Tour Program (FTP) and we will be playing Tests, ODIs and T20 matches on the tour to Bangladesh,” The Nation quoted a senior PCB official, as saying.

Relations between the Pakistan and Bangladesh boards had turned sour after the March 2009 militant attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore.

PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt did not take kindly to Bangladesh refusing to host Pakistan for an ODI series and not supporting them in their bid to keep their World Cup matches at home.

In a documented incident, Butt had an exchange of words with Bangladesh board officials during and after an ICC meeting, in which it was ultimately decided that Pakistan would not host any World Cup matches.

According to sources, the Bangladesh board had been striving to break the ice and normalise relations with its Pakistani counterpart for some months now.

“The series that will begin in December has given a good opportunity for both boards to normalise relations and remove misunderstandings,” said a source.

A PCB official said on the condition of anonymity that Pakistan would tour Bangladesh after they play Sri Lanka in a full series in October-November, either at home or at a neutral venue.

“We are due to tour Bangladesh and we will do that, as it is an important one for both the countries,” the official said.

Bangladesh and Pakistan last played a bilateral series in early 2008, when Bangladesh toured for an ODI series.

Immediately after the Bangladesh tour, the official said, the Pakistan team is also due to tour India under the FTP to play a full Test series. “As far as PCB is concerned, both tours are on,” the official added. (ANI)