Pakistan-Bangladesh sporting relations sour after bilateral series pull out

Bangladesh was supposed to tour Pakistan for one ODI and a Twenty20 match later this month © Getty Images

Karachi, Apr 23, 2012

Sporting relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh have taken a hit after the latter postponed a much-anticipated cricket tour and a football club from there pulled out of the Asian Confederation Cup being held in Lahore.

Pakistan Cricket Board officials were not very pleased over a story in a leading cricket website that the Bangladesh Cricket Board President Mustafa Kamal had asked the South African Cricket Union to play against them in May.

Kamal is quoted as saying that the BCB was willing to foot the bills for the unscheduled series whether it is played in Bangladesh or South Africa.

The PCB is still upset over the manner in which the BCB latched onto a High Court injunction order to postpone its tour to Pakistan.

“Bangladesh is not playing any international cricket until September and yet they have ignored a good opportunity to play against a strong side by skipping the tour to Pakistan,” one board official said.

The PCB hierarchy is due to meet soon to discuss the fallout of the postponement and chalk out future plans including how to go about on cricket relations with Bangladesh hereafter.

On the football front as well relations between the two countries are not good as Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Secretary Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi has lashed out at Bangladesh’s Sheikh Jamal Football Club for pulling out of the AFC President’s Cup scheduled to take off from May 8 in Lahore.

Bangladesh was scheduled to play one ODI and a Twenty20 in Lahore on April 29 and April 30 respectively.

The PCB has hinted it could review its decision to nominate Kamal as a joint candidate of both boards for the ICC position.

Kamal said he couldn’t comment on the High Court order or case but said the BCB would file a reply within the given time-frame.

“Since the matter is sub-judice and our lawyers have to study the full court order, therefore I will not be able to comment on it. Our legal division is working and we will file the reply accordingly,” he said.

He also didn’t believe that as a retaliatory measure the PCB could stop its players from appearing in the Bangladesh Premier League next year.

“The matter is between the two boards and the reports about Pakistan’s likely absence from the upcoming BPL is mere speculation at the moment.

“PCB and BCB are striving hard for the betterment of cricket in the region, and I hope the bilateral cooperation will continue,” he said. (PTI)