The PCBs Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Subhan Ahmed has expressed his dismay at the postponement of visit by the Bangladesh Cricket Team. Speaking to the gathered media at Gadaffi stadium Lahore regarding the postponement of the tour based upon a stay order by the Bangladesh Supreme Court, Mr. Subhan Ahmed has said that PCB as well as the nation is disappointed by the court order.

 

By MenInG (20th April 2012)

The PCBs Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Subhan Ahmed has expressed his dismay at the postponement of visit by the Bangladesh Cricket Team. Speaking to the gathered media at Gadaffi stadium Lahore regarding the postponement of the tour based upon a stay order by the Bangladesh Supreme Court, Mr. Subhan Ahmed has said that PCB as well as the nation is disappointed by the court order.

Responding to a question regarding a response by the PCB as well as the matter of future relations with Bangladesh Cricket Board he stated that, “PCB has requested Bangladesh authorities for a copy of the court order. The next course of action by the PCB will be based upon a thorough examination of this document - It will be premature to say anything without reviewing the court orders”.

Whilst it has been noted that the BCB have not officially cancelled the tour of Pakistan, it remains to be seen how new dates, if and when decided, for this tour can be accommodated in the ICCs FTP calendar. Responding to a question on this topic, Mr. Ahmed stated that “It is difficult to find dates in FTP but not impossible”.

One of the main points of contention between both PCB and BCB during preparatory talks for the now cancelled tour had been the issue of security. It was mentioned by the Chairman Mr. Zaka Ashraf that a report on security had been prepared for hand off to ICC but some confusion has existed on the existence of such as report. Mr. Ahmed clarified this issue by stating that security report had been sent to ICC and Bangladesh delegation was also briefed upon the security plan and security report prepared by the Interior ministry was also handed to the Bangladesh delegation.

The subject of PCB’s relations with their Indian counterparts was also brought up and commenting upon bilateral relations with BCCI, Mr. Subhan Ahmed said that the meeting with BCCI officials was encouraging. He stressed that PCB has a policy of having good relations with all the cricket boards of all the nations and PCB will keep on pursuing the policy.

Whereas many local cricket fans had been looking forward to resumption of international cricket would be feeling let down by current events, Mr. Ahmed sounded a note of optimism by hinting at some alternatives to please Pakistani cricket fans including plans for the Pakistan Premier League (PPL)

“We have some plans for to provide entertainment to Pakistani cricket fans but it will be premature to say anything at the moment. In addition, we are pursuing the concept of PPL seriously and trying our best to stage it in 2012 – plans for which were finalized before the finalization of the Bangladesh tour were announced”.