[Zunaid]

DHAKA, Friday, 18 January 2013

Media Release

BCB’s response to PCB’s claim

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is surprised and disappointed at the claims made by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in a media release issued on 16 January 2013. It was alleged in the statement that the ‘PCB was kept out of the process’ when the Pakistani players were being registered for BPL T20 Season 2 auction and that the auction of Pakistani cricketers was done without the prior intimation of the PCB.

In this regard the BCB’s position is clear. On 05 December 2012 the BCB had formally written to the National Cricket Associations of all Full Members seeking support and cooperation for issuance of ‘No Objection Certificate’ to the cricketers under their respective jurisdiction who were interested in participating in the 2nd edition of BPL T20. The subsequent player auction, in which a good number of Pakistani players were bid for and picked up by different franchises, received worldwide media coverage. At no point during the continuous communication between the BCB and PCB on various matters since the BPL 2013 auction on 20 December 2012 did the PCB raise any concern about the NOC issue until 16 January 2013.

This last-minute stance of the PCB of denying permission to its players to participate in the BPL therefore came as a complete surprise and left the BCB, the organisers of the BPL and the Franchises facing a difficult and embarrassing situation.

The history of cooperation between the BCB and PCB is not unilateral. Bangladesh played a significant role in the resumption of international cricket in Pakistan following the Australian team’s refusal to play there due to concerns over security in March 2008. It was the BCB which showed confidence in Pakistan and sent the National Team there in April 2008 to play five ODIs and a T20i. The BCB also opened its doors to the Pakistani cricketers in the first edition of the BPL and the players were immensely benefited financially and from a competition point of view.

The BCB had attempted to tour Pakistan in 2012 and 2013 out of goodwill and from a genuine intent of trying to assist a fellow ICC Full Member in getting international cricket back in their country. This was never seen as a bargaining tool, a compromise or the consequence of any pre-condition. The BCB also wishes to reiterate the fact that its main priority while considering a tour to Pakistan has always been player safety and security and the presence of a congenial atmosphere for staging international cricket.

The BCB greatly values the friendship and bond with the PCB which has been based on mutual respect and understanding. We hope this relationship will continue to get stronger in the coming days.