Thaindian News

Islamabad, March 5 (IANS) Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief Mustafa Kamal says he is satisfied over the security situation in Pakistan for international events and expressed his willingness to send the national team to this country next month.

Kamal, who is leading a nine-member Bangladeshi security team, arrived in Pakistan Friday and visited Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore for meetings with Pakistani officials and to inspect the security arrangements.

“We are satisfied with the arrangements which would be in place for our team and now this delegation will submit a report to the government,” Kamal told reporters after they concluded the team’s three-day tour in the eastern city of Lahore Sunday.

He also said he will write to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to seek approval for the team’s tour to Pakistan to play three One-day International (ODI) matches and one T20 match next month.

“We will also write a letter to ICC over the assessment of the security and will seek their permission as they are the governing body,” said Kamal.

Pakistan is keen to revive international cricket events in the country which were suspended following a terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team March 3, 2009 in Lahore.

Eight Pakistanis, including six policemen, were killed and six Sri Lankan players and two officials were injured. Soon after the incident, the team was airlifted from the Qadafi Stadium and then flown back to Sri Lanka.

Pakistan thereafter lost its 2011 World Cup co-hosting rights and its team was forced to play its home series at neutral venues, especially in the United Arab Emirates.

Kamal and his team Sunday visited the Qadafi Stadium and watched a dress rehearsal of how the teams will be taken to the ground from their hotel, with hundreds of policemen deployed along the route and surveilance helicopters hovering overhead.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf was optimistic about the revival of cricket in the country with the arrival of Bangladeshi team in April, adding “Our government has promised foolproof security for the Bangladesh team.”

The Bangladeshi delegation also met Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who assured them of foolproof security for the visiting team during its stay in the province.