The Bangladesh Cricket Board recently made a written commitment to its
Pakistan counterpart to touring that country at the end of the year, its
new president Nazmul Hassan revealed today. Hassan didn't say who sent
the letter on behalf of the BCB, but said since it had been sent, the
necessary steps would have to be taken.
It was later revealed that it had been sent before he took over on October 18.
"Jalal [Yunus, the BCB's media committee chairman] said in the last
press conference that we haven't contacted the PCB regarding a tour
[but] we have found out that a letter was sent from the BCB about
playing there," Hassan said at the end of a five-hour meeting in Mirpur
on Thursday. "The Pakistan media started saying that Bangladesh would
tour because such a correspondence had indeed taken place."
The letter, Hassan said, was brief and made no mention of security or
any logistical factors. "Since we have found out about the letter, we
are considering whether it is mandatory to tour Pakistan or if there are
any other options. If we go to Pakistan, we need to be assured of
adequate security for our team.
"Actually there are a lot of gaps in that letter, so we have to take all
this into account and decide if we want to go or not and if we do
[decide positively], then we will go. I would call it a commitment,
although it is just a one-line letter, but it is clear the BCB has
decided."
Asked if it was mentioned to him at his first meeting, Hassan said,
"This wasn't on the agenda at the meeting. I wasn't told about it. I
know for a fact that Jalal bhai didn't know too; maybe the others [directors] did."
Yunus said that despite the letter being sent earlier this month, the
PCB's stand was that it was still Bangladesh who would decide when to
tour. "The letter was sent just before the new president was appointed.
He [Hassan] wasn't informed during the transition period. [PCB general
manager of media] Nadeem Sarwar has denied that PCB president Zaka
Ashraf said Bangladesh will tour Pakistan in December. They have left it
to Bangladesh to decide."
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