Pakistan
Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that the national cricket team will
go to Bangladesh in December-January for a full-fledged tour. "The tour
is part of the future tour program and we will be playing Tests, ODIs
and T20 matches on the tour to Bangladesh," a senior official of the PCB
said. Relations between the Pakistan and Bangladesh boards turned sour
after the militants attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in March
2009.
After the attack, the Bangladesh board withdrew an invitation to
host the Pakistan team for a One-day series and later did not support
them when the ICC moved the World Cup matches from Pakistan on security
grounds. The Chairman of the Pakistan Board, Ijaz Butt did not take
kindly to Bangladesh refusing to host Pakistan for the ODI series and
not supporting them in their bid to keep their World Cup matches at
home.
In a documented incident, Butt had an exchange of words with
officials of the Bangladesh board during and after a ICC meeting at
which it was ultimately decided that Pakistan would not host any World
Cup matches. But sources confirmed that the Bangladesh board had been
striving to break the ice and normalise relations for some months now.
"The series that will begin in December has given a good opportunity for
both boards to normalise relations and remove misunderstandings," one
source said.
A PCB official, who declined to be named, said Pakistan
would tour Bangladesh after they play Sri Lanka in a full series in
October-November, either at home or at a neutral venue. "We are due to
tour Bangladesh and we will do that as it is an important one for both
the countries," the official said. Bangladesh and Pakistan last played a
bilateral series in early 2008 when Bangladesh toured for a One-day
series. The official said that immediately after the tour to Bangladesh,
Pakistan team is also due to tour India under the FTP to play a full
Test series. "As far as PCB is concerned both tours are on," the
official said.
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