PCB chairman blames Punjab govt for cancellation of Bangladesh tour

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf has blamed the Punjab province government for the cancellation of the Bangladesh’s April tour of Pakistan.

Ashraf said a statement from the Punjab government ended any possibility of Bangladesh touring Pakistan.

“The statement made by the Punjab government was that it was not aware of the Bangladesh team’s tour to Lahore and so how could it provide security damaged the tour,” Ashraf said.

“The statement sent out a wrong message to the outside world and to the Bangladesh Cricket Board. Believe me everything was in place for the series to take place and we had even started printing of tickets for the two matches and other arrangements were also being put into place.”

Ashraf is a member of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party executive council.

Analysts have said his role with the PCB led to the fallout between the board and the Punjab government that is run by the opposition Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz group.

Bangladesh cancelled short tour to Pakistan when uncertainties arose over statements by the central and Punjab government officials regarding security arrangements.

No test-playing nation has visited Pakistan since a terrorist attackon the Sri Lankan team in March 2009 in Lahore in which 6 police officers and a van driver were killed.

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