What is happening about bd-pak series??

[rakeeb]

kistan to host Bangladesh in 2011: PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt

The home series starved country Pakistan is most likely to get a first home series after about two years since the terrorist attacks on the Sri Lankan team in March, 2009.

According to Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ijaz Butt, Pakistan will be hosting a series against Bangladesh any time in 2011. Butt, while attending the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting in Dhaka (Bangladesh), took time out to discuss with the officials of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) the possibility of a series between the two countries.

According to Butt, the meeting with the BCB officials was fruitful as they showed their willingness to travel to Pakistan to play a full series. He said, “Bangladesh has agreed to tour Pakistan and we hope that the series will take place here soon."

Butt rubbished the rumours that PCB and BCB were not on good terms. He said, “There have been a few issues between us, but our relations are fine." Earlier, in 2009, the two boards ended up having constrained relations when the BCB refused to host Pakistan for an ODI and T20 series.

BCB maintains till this day that it had nothing to do with that decision and it was the Bangladesh government which did not give clearance for the series. However, this decision by the BCB was not taken well in Pakistan and the PCB subsequently refused to host or tour Bangladesh in future.

But, things are changing in PCB and now the once arrogant chairman Ijaz Butt is on a quest of mending ties with the member boards in his bid to bring back international cricket in Pakistan.

Pakistan became a no touring destination for sporting teams due to the prevailing terrorism incidents, the situation took a turn to the worst when a gang of terrorists tried to kill all the members of the visiting Sri Lankan team in Lahore. This attack left seven Sri Lankan players with minor injuries and claimed the lives of eight Pakistani personnel.

After this shocking incident, the Sri Lankan squad was airlifted back to their country and the series was postponed. Since then no international team has agreed to visit the terrorism ravaged country. This has been a major blow for the cricket crazy nation. But now the PCB is adamant on bringing foreign countries to play in Pakistan and if Bangladesh visit next year it will be a baby step towards the possibility of future home series in Pakistan.