BD High Performance squad to play against Pak High Performance squad in Pakistan [Update # 260]

[MMHS]

As your fellow countryman in this very thread pointed out the male team touring Pakistan would be more high profile and get more attention both in Pakistan and definitely in Bangladesh too.

The stakes are higher especially as if a tour does happen than it will be seen in Bangladesh as helping Pakistan cricket out and I don't think the Bangladesh government wants to send that message to its people.

Hasn't BD team toured PAK previously, even when other teams stopped touring?

 

[winchester]

Hasn't BD team toured PAK previously, even when other teams stopped touring?

Sheikh Hasina current rule started in 2009 and since then no.

It just isn't cricket as I pointed out earlier with the SAARC conference. Previously it was the D-8 conference and something as trivial as an international parliamentary conference in which Bangladesh was the only country to boycott.

 

[Ashraful_Rox]

Lol can't believe PCB is more poor than BCB, feels good to read that BCB is donating money to PCB. PCB is such an embarrassment

 

[Messiah]

Lol at the typical Desi mentality of some posters. Try to Bully other desis, but don't have the guts to try anything with other ethnicities. Blame India and bd for not coming/conspiracies . Then why not blame Aussies, England, etc?

 

[Nil Dhumrojal]

Sheikh Hasina current rule started in 2009 and since then no.

It just isn't cricket as I pointed out earlier with the SAARC conference. Previously it was the D-8 conference and something as trivial as an international parliamentary conference in which Bangladesh was the only country to boycott.

Whether hasina or her gov't want or not ,99% of our people don't want our team to go there until other countries go there. Happy .stop blaming our gov't or trying to find politics in every issue rather fix your country's law and order instead of bullying or begging revenue to us. Please don't come and don't bother us inviting. We don't your threat type invitation. I hope bd never sign any mou with PCB as at times instead of rectifying law and order they will try to blackmail again and again. Please leave us and play with others. Jaan sodo hamari. For this kind of attitude, hum hamari Jaan sodwayi the 1971 mein(can't believe i am saying this).Stop this bullying and leave us and play with others.

 

[Executioner]

Whether hasina or her gov't want or not ,99% of our people don't want our team to go there until other countries go there. Happy .stop blaming our gov't or trying to find politics in every issue rather fix your country's law and order instead of bullying or begging revenue to us. Please don't come and don't bother us inviting. We don't your threat type invitation. I hope bd never sign any mou with PCB as at times instead of rectifying law and order they will try to blackmail again and again. Please leave us and play with others. Jaan sodo hamari. For this kind of attitude, hum hamari Jaan sodwayi the 1971 mein(can't believe i am saying this).Stop this bullying and leave us and play with others.

Agree

BCCI never bullied us. PCB for some reason is bullying us.

Now the irony here is that Pakistan are in no position to bully us because:
1) Ability wise bangladesh probably the better side in LoIs whereas Pakistan are the better test side. Bangladesh aren't doing bad either in tests off late

2) Bangladesh team attracts much more sponsors and tv audience than Lanka WI Zim combined

3) a lot of Pakistan cricketers get good money by playing in our domestic tournaments like DPL and BPL.

PCB needs to swallow their ego and so does fans. Like Abdullah bro said no point creating enemies. PCB already is shut-off from BCCI and now arguing with BCB, which are two lucrative boards to do business with.

BCB has no right to push their players to take the risk and travel to Pakistan.

 

[abhayjj]

from 7:00 onwards

 

[Pakpak]

No, I am perfectly stable here. And, I don't bring my personal feeling to get better of my posts.

This whole mess up is a regular annual exercise for PCB to troll some immature posters here. If you read all my posts sequentially, should have understood by now. This is 4th year running, they plan some tours, they start to invite teams from top (IND) & then start to come down - until it reaches BD, people gets crazy. The truth in, it's more with PAK people hating Hasina than she hates Pakistan.

I won't have posted here, because I understand the frustration of PAK people - but I had to when nonsense like not worthy of playing against, not financially viable than SRL/WI, politically influenced ... sort of rubbish started to pop up. This shenanigans did match to the team I started watching - this doesn't suit for the posters backing this current pathetic bunch.

You also know that very well.

Another absurd post.

Your ''pathetic bunch'' point: We are very good at Tests, and more than good enough in T20 biiltaerals. In ODIs we are struggling but should improve. Every team has hyper fans regardless of how well their team performs, your own countrymen, despite being humiliated for decades, excel at it.

I enjoy your posts usually, you're a nice change from Dios and his ilk but boy have you gone down in my estimation.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Sheikh Hasina current rule started in 2009 and since then no.

It just isn't cricket as I pointed out earlier with the SAARC conference. Previously it was the D-8 conference and something as trivial as an international parliamentary conference in which Bangladesh was the only country to boycott.

Which team has visited Pakistan since 2009?

Many countries boycotted the SAARC Summit.

 

[Pakpak]

Whether hasina or her gov't want or not ,99% of our people don't want our team to go there until other countries go there. Happy .stop blaming our gov't or trying to find politics in every issue rather fix your country's law and order instead of bullying or begging revenue to us. Please don't come and don't bother us inviting. We don't your threat type invitation. I hope bd never sign any mou with PCB as at times instead of rectifying law and order they will try to blackmail again and again. Please leave us and play with others. Jaan sodo hamari. For this kind of attitude, hum hamari Jaan sodwayi the 1971 mein(can't believe i am saying this).Stop this bullying and leave us and play with others.

I agree, I'd support a full boycott and suspension of relations with your country. You'd be happy, so will I.

 

[Nil Dhumrojal]

Lets take a back seat and understand what is happening in Bangladesh right now.

There is practically a one party rule with the ruling party controlling everything from information to cricket.

The information being fed to the common man and the social media using new generation is rampantly anti-Pakistan....the most popular video game these days in Bangladesh is about killing Pakistanis and this game was financed by the Bangladeshi govt.

Sheikh Hasina herself decided with her Indian overlords to boycott the SAARC conference in Islamabad.

Since cricket I imagine plays a huge part in Bangladeshi society these days it would be hard for her to be seen helping Pakistan out in any way by her core supporters.

Bangladesh would not be touring Pakistan even if the terrorist threat was as it is in Iceland.

Now the question is even if we do tour than what benefit can we get from a BCB that can't life a finger without first asking the Hasina government??

first you should learn that may be 50% of our people dont like hasina gov't and dont fed by her media but 99% our people are concerned over pak issues and they are not foolled by any media like you are over taking any decision over any issue corresponding pak. and 99% of these people didn't like your political person's melting nose on our internal issues over war crime tribunal before SAARC summit. hasina had a pressure of our 90% people to boycott pak and SAARC summit. which opportunity anti pak hasina happily took.there's nothing with india govt pressure in this matter rather Bangladeshi peoples who were fed up with pak politicians who were continuously interfering our internal matters. you are just saying blindly what Your media fed to you rather knowing actual fact

 

[Napa]

I think Indian comments would just fuel the suspicion. No need for you guys to take an interest in this, I doubt you would see any other Big 3 team's supporter commenting on a BD tour.

I was replying to a post that claimed BCCI was pressuring BCB from playing in Pakistan.

 

[Markhor]

I don't understand why PCB is happy to host West Indies in UAE yet insists Bangladesh tour them in Pakistan as they'd supposedly lose money in UAE.

Bangladeshis constitute the largest migrant population in the Emirates after India and Pakistan so you can't tell me such a series couldn't draw crowds.

After a series in UAE and building goodwill, you can then offer maybe a one off T20 to be played in Pakistan and go from there. Let the security situation improve more first, we've seen terrorists still able to strike major cities like Lahore recently.

 

[MenInG]

http://www.cricketcountry.com/news/...vive-international-cricket-in-pakistan-591136

Karachi: PCB chief Shahryar Khan will use a meeting of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) in Colombo to bring relations with Bangladesh and Sri Lanka back on track and get their support for return of international cricket to Pakistan. Shahryar on Saturday flew out to Colombo, where he will chair the ACC meeting, and PCB insiders told PTI he will seek to convince Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to support the two-tier system for Test cricket proposed by the International Cricket Council (ICC). “The PCB got a shock after reading the statement by the media spokesman of the Bangladesh Cricket Board that they had turned down an invitation to play a couple of T20 matches in Pakistan this year because of security concerns,” a reliable PCB source said.

The Bangladesh board has said that its security experts who visited Lahore for the PSL final were not satisfied with the situation in Pakistan. “Shaharyar will discuss in detail the security situation in Pakistan with both boards and try to convince them to support Pakistan cricket at this time,” the source said. “There is a feeling in the PCB that perhaps more needs to be done to streamline relations with the Bangladesh and Sri Lankan boards, especially keeping in mind several contentious issues and proposals that will come up for voting at the next ICC meeting,” he said.

Earlier, Shahryar said that their Indian counterpart has so far not contacted them regarding the holding of any bilateral series between two sides. The 83-year-old’s comments came following speculations that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is seeking permission from the Indian government to play a series against Pakistan on a neutral venue.

 

[LordJames]

I know that not many of the emotionally charged Pak fans will read my comment but I will say it anyways.

India has never accepted Pakistan and will never do. India will also undermine Pakistan every step of the way and its foolish to expect anyting otherwise. With new found money and International clout players and boards cannot risk the ire of India (no matter how much they sympathise with Pakistan).

The security situation in Pakistan is genuinly not good.

The political leadership and Government of Pakistan is shambolic and unable to help the cause of Pakistan.

The institutions of Pakistan are in dire shape.

Cricket and PCB are merely are reflection of the society and how things are run.

South Africa survived International wildreness and came back stronger so it is possible for Pakistan to do so, in fact it is perhaps easier for Pakistan because of two reasons:

1) Pakistan does have a lot of sympathy while SA didn't
2) PSL has done well and Pakistan can also tour overseas so the revenue stream is not as bad as it can be.

So people of Pakistan need to fight endemic corruption and nepotism which is eating the heart of the country like termite.

However, most pakistanees will keep blaming BCB or India (which is at fault as I have said).

People of Pakistan need to move away from options which are just not viable and just work to keep a steady ship.

Hafeez is not getting selected (repeatedly) due to RAW or India.
Pitches in PAK Domestic are not bad due to RAW or India.
Bad quality balls are not being purchased due to RAW or India.
Scheduling Domestic ODI in Islamabad in icy and wet rainy conditions are not due to RAW or India.

Pakistan needs to look inwardly and reflect internally but people of Pakistan love to blame others. Outsiders may be at fault but it is the easier thing to do.

 

[Pakpak]

http://www.cricketcountry.com/news/...vive-international-cricket-in-pakistan-591136

Karachi: PCB chief Shahryar Khan will use a meeting of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) in Colombo to bring relations with Bangladesh and Sri Lanka back on track and get their support for return of international cricket to Pakistan. Shahryar on Saturday flew out to Colombo, where he will chair the ACC meeting, and PCB insiders told PTI he will seek to convince Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to support the two-tier system for Test cricket proposed by the International Cricket Council (ICC). “The PCB got a shock after reading the statement by the media spokesman of the Bangladesh Cricket Board that they had turned down an invitation to play a couple of T20 matches in Pakistan this year because of security concerns,” a reliable PCB source said.

The Bangladesh board has said that its security experts who visited Lahore for the PSL final were not satisfied with the situation in Pakistan. “Shaharyar will discuss in detail the security situation in Pakistan with both boards and try to convince them to support Pakistan cricket at this time,” the source said. “There is a feeling in the PCB that perhaps more needs to be done to streamline relations with the Bangladesh and Sri Lankan boards, especially keeping in mind several contentious issues and proposals that will come up for voting at the next ICC meeting,” he said.

Earlier, Shahryar said that their Indian counterpart has so far not contacted them regarding the holding of any bilateral series between two sides. The 83-year-old’s comments came following speculations that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is seeking permission from the Indian government to play a series against Pakistan on a neutral venue.

BD's security experts were not satisfied? I was reading a report from the ICC's expert and he was more than satisfied when it came to match security and his own security when he visited on his own days later. It was posted here in its entirety in a thread as well.

 

[Nil Dhumrojal]

BD's security experts were not satisfied? I was reading a report from the ICC's expert and he was more than satisfied when it came to match security and his own security when he visited on his own days later. It was posted here in its entirety in a thread as well.

it was posted in your media;right? not a single bd media quoted that they were happy as far as i know

 

[Pakpak]

it was posted in your media;right? not a single bd media quoted that they were happy

It was posted by PP admins on PP and by the ICC man from the ICC media release and on cricinfo and every cricket website. Who is talking about BD people?

 

[Varun]

Stick to the topic, folks.

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shahryar Khan told reporters in Colombo that a Bangladesh High Performance team will go to Pakistan to play against the Pakistan High Performance squad, a tour tentatively slated for this July.

"Bangladesh is agreeable to send its high performance team to Pakistan, which is a big step," said Khan to Bangladesh reporters after an informal meeting between the heads of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and Khan himself.

"They will play in Pakistan against our high performance team. I think this time around the ICC wants us to play in July, but we will finalise the actual dates later."

Speaking earlier, BCB boss Nazmul Hassan had said that Bangladesh would be sending junior teams to Pakistan.

Khan said that Bangladesh's national team were not yet ready to tour Pakistan, a country closed off to hosting international matches since the Lahore terrorist attacks on the Sri Lanka team bus in 2009.

"As regards to the national team they are not yet ready to come to Pakistan, but we could play either in Bangladesh or in a third country, which is acceptable to both sides, or we could even do it in Sri Lanka. But the tour is on," he said, although not giving details as to the time frame.

BCB boss Hassan had also said that Pakistan's tour of Bangladesh in July-August this year is slated to go ahead as planned, and his PCB counterpart seemed to agree, albeit hinting at some financial back and forth and an 'assurance' he was given.

"Yes in July-August. We also have to agree on a financial model because this is the third time that Pakistan is playing Bangladesh in Bangladesh, which becomes a bit lop-sided. I am assured that once we are able to have the two HP teams [the other being a return visit to Bangladesh by the Pakistan HP team] coming, the next time around the Bangladesh cricket team will come to Pakistan."

http://www.thedailystar.net/sports/bangladesh-hp-team-visit-pakistan-pcb-boss-1385137

 

[Citizen4]

what does High-performance squad mean? the guys who are training in NCA or A team?

 

[MenInG]

So the high performance guys are expendable

 

[Nil Dhumrojal]

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shahryar Khan told reporters in Colombo that a Bangladesh High Performance team will go to Pakistan to play against the Pakistan High Performance squad, a tour tentatively slated for this July.

"Bangladesh is agreeable to send its high performance team to Pakistan, which is a big step," said Khan to Bangladesh reporters after an informal meeting between the heads of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and Khan himself.

"They will play in Pakistan against our high performance team. I think this time around the ICC wants us to play in July, but we will finalise the actual dates later."

Speaking earlier, BCB boss Nazmul Hassan had said that Bangladesh would be sending junior teams to Pakistan.

Khan said that Bangladesh's national team were not yet ready to tour Pakistan, a country closed off to hosting international matches since the Lahore terrorist attacks on the Sri Lanka team bus in 2009.

"As regards to the national team they are not yet ready to come to Pakistan, but we could play either in Bangladesh or in a third country, which is acceptable to both sides, or we could even do it in Sri Lanka. But the tour is on," he said, although not giving details as to the time frame.

BCB boss Hassan had also said that Pakistan's tour of Bangladesh in July-August this year is slated to go ahead as planned, and his PCB counterpart seemed to agree, albeit hinting at some financial back and forth and an 'assurance' he was given.

"Yes in July-August. We also have to agree on a financial model because this is the third time that Pakistan is playing Bangladesh in Bangladesh, which becomes a bit lop-sided. I am assured that once we are able to have the two HP teams [the other being a return visit to Bangladesh by the Pakistan HP team] coming, the next time around the Bangladesh cricket team will come to Pakistan."

http://www.thedailystar.net/sports/bangladesh-hp-team-visit-pakistan-pcb-boss-1385137

Good news for Pak cricket. This should be the approach for return of cricket in pakistan. Hope like bd other high profile countries would send their A team or high performance team there regularly and pcb also assure proper protection for those team. After sevaral tour of these teams hope someday all countries would send their national team if all goes right till then. PCB should think of these type of procedures rather than bullying or threatening other boards. I am sure this is bcb's proposal,not of any pcb dumb head's.

 

[Nil Dhumrojal]

So the high performance guys are expendable

Didn't expect this type of reaction from you bro.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

So they send their womens team and junior teams to Pak but can't send their senior team?

We are being played. They are happy to send their youngsters over for experience but can't send their senior team for a tour because they don't want PCB to make any money.

If PCB had any self respect they would reject any future bilaterals with BD.

 

[DRsohail]

Good news for Pak cricket. This should be the approach for return of cricket in pakistan. Hope like bd other high profile countries would send their A team or high performance team there regularly and pcb also assure proper protection for those team. After sevaral tour of these teams hope someday all countries would send their national team if all goes right till then. PCB should think of these type of procedures rather than bullying or threatening other boards. I am sure this is bcb's proposal,not of any pcb dumb head's.

really good from pcb or bcb...bangla brothers will always help us in these hard times but we should not have high expectations from them which they cant fulfill ..they have already sent their women team here so hats off for every bit of work//...

 

[WC-Passion]

Pathetic stuff from PCB and BCB, so apparently it's safe to send Women and kids but not senior players? It's either that or that BCB have a big problem with Pakistan making any profit.

 

[MenInG]

Didn't expect this type of reaction from you bro.

How else do we explain this? Either Pakistan is safe or its not; you cannot say that high performance lives are cheaper

 

[shaz619]

Pathetic stuff from PCB and BCB, so apparently it's safe to send Women and kids but not senior players? It's either that or that BCB have a big problem with Pakistan making any profit.

I was thinking the same so the BCB believe that their high performance squad lives are less in value then their national squad given their alleged "security" concerns; their initial reasoning doesn't add up now because you either tour or you don't especially when security is the main issue regardless. Talk about biting the hand that fed them, Pakistan made Bangladesh pretty much on every level

 

[Executioner]

How else do we explain this? Either Pakistan is safe or its not; you cannot say that high performance lives are cheaper

The key here is "Profile- high or low"

The real targets are high profile groups. Obviously our academy team is not as high profile as National side, just saying.

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

This is the sole reason why I despise these people and their board........Either Pakistan is Safe or It's not !!

These people just want to play politics at every nook and corner.....

 

[shaz619]

Who is going to be in this team that will tour anyway? if Mohammad Ashraful is in it then it would be the equivalent of a national team

 

[Pakpak]

The key here is "Profile- high or low"

The real targets are high profile groups. Obviously our academy team is not as high profile as National side, just saying.

There is no chance any BD player will get attacked especially if you go over the security details given to teams in PSL. The ICC's expert said it was satisfactory. Even the Indians on PP here admitted they were fool proof.

For terrorists attacking low profile targets now is much easier than high profile.

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

Who is going to be in this team that will tour anyway? if Mohammad Ashraful is in it then it would be the equivalent of a national team

I am not too sure but isn't that the same guy who was caught fixing or it is someone else ??

 

[MRSN]

What Pakistan gets out of this? It's a waste of time and money. SHK always puts Pakistan cricket in ridicolous situations. Either get their senior team or do take a bold step..nothing in between.

 

[shaz619]

I am not too sure but isn't that the same guy who was caught fixing or it is someone else ??

No that was someone else, Ashraful is a sharif changah bandah; he also smashed the great Glen Mcgrath all around the park in an ODI game en-route to a magnificent 100; he was only 14 years old at the time

 

[Shafi]

That's why you need professional and honest people to deal with crooks like BD's officials who talk non-sense. SK has to go cos this guy does not have any self pride. He is happy with so-called high-performance squad (May be filled with some tourists/laborers who knows nothing about cricket but paid to sneak in Pakistan to find jobs/pleasure trips).

 

[MMHS]

So the high performance guys are expendable

No, but you didn't understand the technicality. That HP team (both teams) will stay at NCA & play at the academy grounds, almost closed door. You can cross check this later.

BCB also needs to convince it's politicians & people - why politicians, you should know. These are ice breaking tours by steps - women team, BD players in PSL, HP team so on ....

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

the key here is "profile- high or low"

the real targets are high profile groups. Obviously our academy team is not as high profile as national side, just saying.

the security team are ready to close down the entire city as a precaution. The psl final went through without any problems. World leaders attended a conference in islamabad without any problems. Foreign diplomats, tourists, business people are in pakistan everyday without any problems.

You think a bd senior team is high profile? Get over yourself, stadiums will be half full because minnow team is playing. This all about making sure pcb make no money for their home tours. Dirty dirty politics.

 

[Nil Dhumrojal]

There is no chance any BD player will get attacked especially if you go over the security details given to teams in PSL. The ICC's expert said it was satisfactory. Even the Indians on PP here admitted they were fool proof.

For terrorists attacking low profile targets now is much easier than high profile.

The same icc told us ,it's not safe at satisfactory level.

 

[Nil Dhumrojal]

How else do we explain this? Either Pakistan is safe or its not; you cannot say that high performance lives are cheaper

At least you can take this as a positive start to build up good relationship between the two boards as it is now all time low. Think positive yaar. May be bcb would agree to send their national team after the successful tour of high performance squad,who knows. Be positive yaar.

 

[Pakpak]

The same icc told us ,it's not safe at satisfactory level.

Well the ICC expert must have been lying then.

I told you yesterday too, read his report. Its posted online pretty openly. Either you don't understand English properly or you're being deliberately obtuse.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

At least you can take this as a positive start to build up good relationship between the two boards as it is now all time low. Think positive yaar. May be bcb would agree to send their national team after the successful tour of high performance squad,who knows. Be positive yaar.

All time low for what?

Pakistan has toured BD 3 times already. We helped you to get test status. There is no low.

Just something you have created to make yourself feel better.

I am not stupid and nor is anyone else on here. We all know what game is being played.

Just be lucky I am not in charge but old softie SK is. I would cancel bilateral relations with BCB ungratefuls.

Spitting in our faces. We won't forget.

 

[imteaz]

That's why you need professional and honest people to deal with crooks like BD's officials who talk non-sense. SK has to go cos this guy does not have any self pride. He is happy with so-called high-performance squad (May be filled with some tourists/laborers who knows nothing about cricket but paid to sneak in Pakistan to find jobs/pleasure trips).

LOL Bdesh has better economy and better job environment than Pakistan. Some Pakistani fan acting like desperate, you know what happened 2009, you know you can't even defend your prime minister, and there is bomb blast every week, and you guys claim its safe. Very funny.

No one would visit Pakistan, But you guys should be happy Bdesh sending their High performance team.
Tell me a country who will send their under 19 team or A team to Pakistan? No one would do it, no matter how many times you beg. So you guys should give credit where its due. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Pakpak]

At least you can take this as a positive start to build up good relationship between the two boards as it is now all time low. Think positive yaar. May be bcb would agree to send their national team after the successful tour of high performance squad,who knows. Be positive yaar.

Since you can't even bother to google and I have to spoon-feed you so I will.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/1086672.html

It is 0200 hours on the morning of Sunday, March 5. The night is crystal clear with a slight chill in the air after the heat of the day, and I am standing on the tarmac outside the VVIP reception terminal in a remote corner of Lahore's Allama Iqbal International airport. Behind me are maybe a couple of dozen armed Pakistan commandos and elite police. Five snipers are perched on the roof of the single-story building. To one side are four military helicopters, while ahead stretches the airport runway towards the main terminal, where the tailfin of Emirates flight EK622, newly landed from Dubai, stands out. A vehicle convoy, headlights blazing and red-and-blue lights flashing, has left the environs of the aircraft and is making its way rapidly towards us.

It pulls up by us, police vehicles topping and tailing the line. Sandwiched in between are two 16-seater Toyota Coaster buses, armoured to a B6 ballistics rating, and so designed to withstand bullets from assault rifles such as the commonly used AK47. There is also protection underneath from landmine-type blasts. Faces peer through the windows. The Peshawar Zalmi cricket team has arrived in the city to contest with Quetta Gladiators the final of the Pakistan Super League T20 competition.

The small convoy, joined now by the armoured bus I am in, makes its way through three security gates, plain-clothes close-protection officers running alongside. Beyond, a maelstrom of flashing lights and military presence, is the convoy that will take the team to the Pearl Continental hotel. We move forward, and are surrounded by the main body of the cavalcade that will deliver the team. In the last 24 hours, the route we will take has been swept for explosives and a practice run made.


A full house attended the match despite the rigorous security checks and the tighter arrangements for ticket purchasing © Associated Press
The whole route, one of two alternatives and chosen at the last minute, has been lit with temporary floodlights every 100 metres. Officers likewise are staged every 100 metres and police vehicles every 200. Each kilometre sees a pair of motorcyclists, members of the new 670-strong "Dolphin" rapid-response teams, linked to a control centre by mobile cameras and GPS, and with the capability to upload and download visual information. Housing alongside the route has been swept and occupants vetted. Intermittent rooftops have snipers installed. Hospitals are on alert and safe houses have been readied. A helicopter throbs above, with others on standby for evacuation if necessary. All intersections are sealed off to a distance of 200 metres from the route and any cars not driven away voluntarily have been removed by forklift truck (as they will be from the environs of the Gaddafi stadium): the route is entirely free of traffic and scanned by perhaps the most advanced CCTV system in the world.

A cavalcade of 21 vehicles forms with the two team buses at the centre. In the vanguard is a motorcycle traffic "pilot" and behind him two traffic vehicles, each containing a high-ranking traffic officer. The buses are surrounded on either side and in front by seven vehicles containing elite heavily armed troops, the one in front armed with a light machine gun. Behind the rear bus comes an ambulance and a fire truck, and to either side of these, a vehicle that can jam signals and another containing the senior officer in charge of the operation. Two more elite vehicles and a rear traffic pilot complete the main cavalcade, while two more elite vehicles will run parallel to it down the other side of the dual carriageway that will be employed.

We move off, at high speed. The journey from the airport to the PC hotel generally can take up to an hour, such is the traffic. Here it takes precisely six minutes to reach Gate 3 of the hotel, which opens. The close-protection officers decant from their vehicles and take up their positions alongside the buses and escort them into the hotel grounds, where the team steps down from their bus and into the hotel lobby.


Paramilitary soldiers armed and armoured stand outside the stadium © AFP
The hotel itself has been secured. Individual guests have been vetted for the duration of the team's stay. All booked functions have been postponed. Armed police are everywhere, and plain-clothes special-branch officers are by the lifts and occupy positions on the dedicated floors. No one can move around without protection at hand. It is close to 3am by the time the team get to bed, with a game starting in 17 hours.

I am in Lahore at the invitation of the Pakistan Cricket Board as part of an ICC security delegation, which includes representatives from Australia, the UK, South Africa, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the ICC itself. My brief from the ICC was to spend some time beforehand talking to the various experts with a stake in the very high level of security that was being put into place, and at the end of it all, make an honest and independent personal assessment on how I, placing myself in the shoes of an overseas cricketer, felt during that time. Did I feel secure in the knowledge that the security provided was intended to be, and was, of the highest standard, or despite this, did I still feel uneasy, particularly given the recent terrorist attacks in Pakistan and Lahore in particular? I was being paid for my time but not, I insisted as a condition, to write an ICC or PCB public-relations piece. I was fully aware of the proposal for a series of matches between Pakistan and a World XI to be played in Lahore in September 2017, and knew that the successful staging of the PSL final, with the security road-tested, was an integral part of the plan. I had travelled to Lahore with assurances but still less detailed security information than the two finalists had been given.

It is the afternoon prior to the team's arrival and we are at the Punjab Police Integrated Command, Control and Communication centre (PPIC3), a white block building set in a compound in central Lahore. The manner in which Punjab is policed has been redrawn in the wake of the attack on the Sri Lankan team in 2009, and restructured in the past 12 months into the Safe Cities Authority, which includes, among other functions, integrated emergency response and counter-terrorism. Incidents of terrorism, we are told, have declined dramatically since the inception of this body, from 43 in 2012 down to seven last year.


Darren Sammy dances and entertains the crowd before the final, which his team, Peshawar Zalmi, won © Associated Press
We are in a wood-panelled first-floor conference room, and through plate glass see below a vast space with perhaps 50 or 60 screens on the wall, each monitored 24/7 by pods of specially trained IT graduates. This, we are told, is considered the most advanced and comprehensive CCTV coverage of a city in the world, the installation of which was overseen by the Metropolitan Police of London. Fifteen-thousand cameras monitor Lahore, 8000 of which are fixed at 1800 sensitive locations across the city, and the remainder mobile, including those assigned to the Dolphin teams. Fifteen-hundred kilometres of optical fibre were installed. The whole thing cost US$137 million. The capability and clarity are hugely impressive.

It is around the conference table that the protocols for the final are explained. The Gaddafi Stadium lies within Nishtar Park, a sporting complex containing hockey, swimming and football stadiums, as well as the cricket ground. The whole complex has already been secured and is being swept by dogs and detectors. Within the hockey stadium there is a dedicated control centre with its own bank of screens monitoring 81 on-site cameras (59 fixed and 22 with pan, tilt, and zoom capacity). There are two 20-bed temporary hospitals set up in the complex and two mobile hospitals. Contingency is in place for aerial evacuation of the teams.

The stadium is expected to be full to its 22,000 capacity. Tickets for the event have been sold through special outlets such as banks, with biometric identification required, and identities verified through the National Database and Registration Authority. The biometrics will be used again when spectators enter checkpoints in each of the four concentric zones with the stadium at the centre. There will be body searches and scans at each stage. Within the crowd, plain-clothed police and special-branch officers will mingle.

For the journey from the hotel to the stadium, the same cavalcade will form and again take one of two routes. Two hundred and twenty-seven cameras have been installed at 71 sites to monitor progress. The journey, as with that from the airport, will take around six minutes.

Now, though, we have some confusion. The team have been told that there will be a 4.30pm departure (three and a half hours before the match, although there is a closing ceremony first), while our delegation, due to travel in the same convoy, has been told it is half an hour later. The difference is split, but outside, in the hotel forecourt, it becomes chaotic. The players are installed in the buses, but a tidal wave of team owners and sponsors with their families and guests also disgorges from the hotel. Buses are boarded and disembarked again. There are too few places for everyone. At one point, some of the Pakistani players in the teams are placed in an unarmoured bus, which is far from satisfactory; the overseas players were unaffected and perhaps oblivious. It takes 20 minutes to sort it all out, all within the confines of the hotel grounds, but that, and the melee inside the hotel as the teams leave, will need rectifying in future. The cavalcade to the ground is rapid and uneventful.


Fans express their delight at the return of high-profile cricket to Pakistan © AFP
Inside the stadium, the ground is already filling fast when the teams arrive, but it is some time, after the entertainment of the closing show, before they take the field and walk a lap to greet the crowd. The perimeter of the playing area is around 20 metres from the fencing in front of the stands, but there were perhaps a hundred people within that area: performers, VIP guests and families for the most part. At one point some players were surrounded by well-wishers and selfie-seekers, attention they might have done without. The sterile Players, Management and Officials zone that embraces the dressing rooms seems less secure than it ought.

Perhaps this is nit-picking but that, as my fellow delegates are quick to point out, is what they are here to do: be mindful of the weakest link. The vetting procedure has been immense and the level of protection within the hotel and on the roads staggering. The chaos on the hotel forecourt can easily be addressed, and likewise the limited intrusion at the ground.

Throughout, I was afforded the same level of security as the teams (a visit I made on my own to the stadium the day after the match saw my car preceded by an outrider and flanked by two vehicles of elite forces). I felt completely comfortable in regard to my own safety. I subsequently was told that in any case, intelligence service intercepts had discovered that the intense nature of the security had acted as a deterrent, which prior knowledge might also have served to ease the doubts of those who while taking their own safety as a given, were nonetheless concerned about any incidents in the crowd beyond the stadium's security blanket.

The day after the match, Colonel Azam Khan, 20 years an intelligence officer and now the PCB's head of security, said that overall he was very satisfied. The process had begun ten days previously, he said, and 90% of the objective was to secure not just Lahore but the whole of Punjab. There was still some fine-tuning, he admitted, with "maybe a lack of some coordination at some operational points". But these too could be readily addressed and not repeated.

There will be natural questions. With so many resources concentrated at this event, did it dilute security elsewhere across Lahore and Punjab? How sustainable is such a security exercise in the future?

To the first: all major sporting events anywhere in the world require concentration of resources, so Pakistan is no different, but the short answer is that bringing international cricket back to Pakistan will be a slow and lengthy process. This has been a first tentative step in the right direction. The economic benefits of regular international cricket, even as a representation of a more normal society, would far outweigh the security costs. This security is merely a manifestation of the total revamping of policing in Punjab.

To the second, the most senior officials from across the province were drafted in for this exercise, but as Colonel Azam suggested, the security of the stadium was only 10% of the objective, with that of the whole of Lahore and the province paramount. In the next few years, resources such as those for Lahore will be rolled out in other cities: Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Multan, Gujranwala and Bahawalpur.

It is my hope to return in September, and, as things stand, I will do so without hesitation or any of the apprehensions I might have had this time. Between now and then, world-class players will be approached and asked if they will participate in what will be a second significant staging post on the way to bringing regular international cricket back to Pakistan. The success of the PSL final, and the testimony of those overseas players who took part, such as Darren Sammy and Dawid Malan, should go some way to assuaging doubts, and it may be that the advice of the security advisers to the national boards will have softened somewhat.

It was a fine occasion, and a small first step, but one that needed to be taken. Pakistan, not just Pakistan cricket, deserves it.

 

[Nil Dhumrojal]

what does High-performance squad mean? the guys who are training in NCA or A team?

Don't know about Pak hp team but we have well organised hp team consists of young players who were in the age levels previously or have good prospect considering domestic performance. Some recent ex players are also there. The main goal is to keep those good prospect players fit and match ready who are not in national team or left age levels(over 19). These players are trained and maintained fitness all year under proper academic system. There is a huge budget for this project as there are many high profile permanent and part time coach to guide these players all over the years.

 

[Pakpak]

LOL Bdesh has better economy and better job environment than Pakistan. Some Pakistani fan acting like desperate, you know what happened 2009, you know you can't even defend your prime minister, and there is bomb blast every week, and you guys claim its safe. Very funny.

No one would visit Pakistan, But you guys should be happy Bdesh sending their High performance team.
Tell me a country who will send their under 19 team or A team to Pakistan? No one would do it, no matter how many times you beg. So you guys should give credit where its due. Just my 2 cents.

Everyday a bomb blast? So this year there have been 92 attacks? Please list them.

As for economy Pakistan is ahead on GDP and every other indicator. I can pull up stats for you if you want.

 

[imteaz]

All time low for what?

Pakistan has toured BD 3 times already. We helped you to get test status. There is no low.

Just something you have created to make yourself feel better.

I am not stupid and nor is anyone else on here. We all know what game is being played.

Just be lucky I am not in charge but old softie SK is. I would cancel bilateral relations with BCB ungratefuls.

Spitting in our faces. We won't forget.

Dude, Its Pakistan who offered, if you can't send National team then please send your A or under 19 team.
First tell your Broad not to beg to Bdesh again and again. And Bdesh don't need Pakistan, But Pakistan need Bdesh, we can see how many Pakistan was begging Bdesh even after got rejected 3 times.

 

[Pakpak]

Dude, Its Pakistan who offered, if you can't send National team then please send your A or under 19 team.
First tell your Broad not to beg to Bdesh again and again. And Bdesh don't need Pakistan, But Pakistan need Bdesh, we can see how many Pakistan was begging Bdesh even after got rejected 3 times.

If it was upto normal people like me there would be no relations with Bangladesh. I see your country the same way I see India as. I love Bengali people, have had the pleasure of knowing a few, but your snake Prime Minister and her Pakistani hate and uttery insufferable BD fans make it very difficult to like your country.

 

[Citizen4]

Don't know about Pak hp team but we have well organised hp team consists of young players who were in the age levels previously or have good prospect considering domestic performance. Some recent ex players are also there. The main goal is to keep those good prospect players fit and match ready who are not in national team or left age levels(over 19). These players are trained and maintained fitness all year under proper academic system. There is a huge budget for this project as there are many high profile permanent and part time coach to guide these players all over the years.

aha, alright, so basically A-team

 

[Pakpak]

Don't know about Pak hp team but we have well organised hp team consists of young players who were in the age levels previously or have good prospect considering domestic performance. Some recent ex players are also there. The main goal is to keep those good prospect players fit and match ready who are not in national team or left age levels(over 19). These players are trained and maintained fitness all year under proper academic system. There is a huge budget for this project as there are many high profile permanent and part time coach to guide these players all over the years.

I didn't know this. How is this different to your A team?

 

[Shafi]

LOL Bdesh has better economy and better job environment than Pakistan. Some Pakistani fan acting like desperate, you know what happened 2009, you know you can't even defend your prime minister, and there is bomb blast every week, and you guys claim its safe. Very funny.

No one would visit Pakistan, But you guys should be happy Bdesh sending their High performance team.
Tell me a country who will send their under 19 team or A team to Pakistan? No one would do it, no matter how many times you beg. So you guys should give credit where its due. Just my 2 cents.

Is that the reason an Indian high commissioner was in charge of parliamentary election?

BCB can't decide anything without BCCI's approval?

BSF is in charge of Bangladesh border?

Most of people around the world don't know Bangladesh but they know us

and so on............
High performance squad does not mean any professional team from any age group like U-19, 23 or even 12.
Most likely they are wanna be cricketer like some 3rd division leagues who don't have future captained by some former players.

PCB is just wasting its time.

 

[imteaz]

If it was upto normal people like me there would be no relations with Bangladesh. I see your country the same way I see India as. I love Bengali people, have had the pleasure of knowing a few, but your snake Prime Minister and her Pakistani hate and uttery insufferable BD fans make it very difficult to like your country.

I live in Toronto, i have lots of Pakistani friends, They always tell me, Bangladesh took the right decision, it's within their right not to visit Pakistan, if they think its unsafe. So those who living outside Pakistan think they took right decision, and it's not safe.

But you guys saying different things, so i don't get it.

 

[imteaz]

Is that the reason an Indian high commissioner was in charge of parliamentary election?

BCB can't decide anything without BCCI's approval?

BSF is in charge of Bangladesh border?

Most of people around the world don't know Bangladesh but they know us

and so on............
High performance squad does not mean any professional team from any age group like U-19, 23 or even 12.
Most likely they are wanna be cricketer like some 3rd division leagues who don't have future captained by some former players.

PCB is just wasting its time.

Shakib al Hasan, Nasir hossain, Taskin ahmed, Musfiqur rahim and Tamim iqbal was in high performance team after their under 19 performance.

 

[Nil Dhumrojal]

Since you can't even bother to google and I have to spoon-feed you so I will.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/1086672.html

It is 0200 hours on the morning of Sunday, March 5. The night is crystal clear with a slight chill in the air after the heat of the day, and I am standing on the tarmac outside the VVIP reception terminal in a remote corner of Lahore's Allama Iqbal International airport. Behind me are maybe a couple of dozen armed Pakistan commandos and elite police. Five snipers are perched on the roof of the single-story building. To one side are four military helicopters, while ahead stretches the airport runway towards the main terminal, where the tailfin of Emirates flight EK622, newly landed from Dubai, stands out. A vehicle convoy, headlights blazing and red-and-blue lights flashing, has left the environs of the aircraft and is making its way rapidly towards us.

It pulls up by us, police vehicles topping and tailing the line. Sandwiched in between are two 16-seater Toyota Coaster buses, armoured to a B6 ballistics rating, and so designed to withstand bullets from assault rifles such as the commonly used AK47. There is also protection underneath from landmine-type blasts. Faces peer through the windows. The Peshawar Zalmi cricket team has arrived in the city to contest with Quetta Gladiators the final of the Pakistan Super League T20 competition.

The small convoy, joined now by the armoured bus I am in, makes its way through three security gates, plain-clothes close-protection officers running alongside. Beyond, a maelstrom of flashing lights and military presence, is the convoy that will take the team to the Pearl Continental hotel. We move forward, and are surrounded by the main body of the cavalcade that will deliver the team. In the last 24 hours, the route we will take has been swept for explosives and a practice run made.


A full house attended the match despite the rigorous security checks and the tighter arrangements for ticket purchasing © Associated Press
The whole route, one of two alternatives and chosen at the last minute, has been lit with temporary floodlights every 100 metres. Officers likewise are staged every 100 metres and police vehicles every 200. Each kilometre sees a pair of motorcyclists, members of the new 670-strong "Dolphin" rapid-response teams, linked to a control centre by mobile cameras and GPS, and with the capability to upload and download visual information. Housing alongside the route has been swept and occupants vetted. Intermittent rooftops have snipers installed. Hospitals are on alert and safe houses have been readied. A helicopter throbs above, with others on standby for evacuation if necessary. All intersections are sealed off to a distance of 200 metres from the route and any cars not driven away voluntarily have been removed by forklift truck (as they will be from the environs of the Gaddafi stadium): the route is entirely free of traffic and scanned by perhaps the most advanced CCTV system in the world.

A cavalcade of 21 vehicles forms with the two team buses at the centre. In the vanguard is a motorcycle traffic "pilot" and behind him two traffic vehicles, each containing a high-ranking traffic officer. The buses are surrounded on either side and in front by seven vehicles containing elite heavily armed troops, the one in front armed with a light machine gun. Behind the rear bus comes an ambulance and a fire truck, and to either side of these, a vehicle that can jam signals and another containing the senior officer in charge of the operation. Two more elite vehicles and a rear traffic pilot complete the main cavalcade, while two more elite vehicles will run parallel to it down the other side of the dual carriageway that will be employed.

We move off, at high speed. The journey from the airport to the PC hotel generally can take up to an hour, such is the traffic. Here it takes precisely six minutes to reach Gate 3 of the hotel, which opens. The close-protection officers decant from their vehicles and take up their positions alongside the buses and escort them into the hotel grounds, where the team steps down from their bus and into the hotel lobby.


Paramilitary soldiers armed and armoured stand outside the stadium © AFP
The hotel itself has been secured. Individual guests have been vetted for the duration of the team's stay. All booked functions have been postponed. Armed police are everywhere, and plain-clothes special-branch officers are by the lifts and occupy positions on the dedicated floors. No one can move around without protection at hand. It is close to 3am by the time the team get to bed, with a game starting in 17 hours.

I am in Lahore at the invitation of the Pakistan Cricket Board as part of an ICC security delegation, which includes representatives from Australia, the UK, South Africa, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the ICC itself. My brief from the ICC was to spend some time beforehand talking to the various experts with a stake in the very high level of security that was being put into place, and at the end of it all, make an honest and independent personal assessment on how I, placing myself in the shoes of an overseas cricketer, felt during that time. Did I feel secure in the knowledge that the security provided was intended to be, and was, of the highest standard, or despite this, did I still feel uneasy, particularly given the recent terrorist attacks in Pakistan and Lahore in particular? I was being paid for my time but not, I insisted as a condition, to write an ICC or PCB public-relations piece. I was fully aware of the proposal for a series of matches between Pakistan and a World XI to be played in Lahore in September 2017, and knew that the successful staging of the PSL final, with the security road-tested, was an integral part of the plan. I had travelled to Lahore with assurances but still less detailed security information than the two finalists had been given.

It is the afternoon prior to the team's arrival and we are at the Punjab Police Integrated Command, Control and Communication centre (PPIC3), a white block building set in a compound in central Lahore. The manner in which Punjab is policed has been redrawn in the wake of the attack on the Sri Lankan team in 2009, and restructured in the past 12 months into the Safe Cities Authority, which includes, among other functions, integrated emergency response and counter-terrorism. Incidents of terrorism, we are told, have declined dramatically since the inception of this body, from 43 in 2012 down to seven last year.


Darren Sammy dances and entertains the crowd before the final, which his team, Peshawar Zalmi, won © Associated Press
We are in a wood-panelled first-floor conference room, and through plate glass see below a vast space with perhaps 50 or 60 screens on the wall, each monitored 24/7 by pods of specially trained IT graduates. This, we are told, is considered the most advanced and comprehensive CCTV coverage of a city in the world, the installation of which was overseen by the Metropolitan Police of London. Fifteen-thousand cameras monitor Lahore, 8000 of which are fixed at 1800 sensitive locations across the city, and the remainder mobile, including those assigned to the Dolphin teams. Fifteen-hundred kilometres of optical fibre were installed. The whole thing cost US$137 million. The capability and clarity are hugely impressive.

It is around the conference table that the protocols for the final are explained. The Gaddafi Stadium lies within Nishtar Park, a sporting complex containing hockey, swimming and football stadiums, as well as the cricket ground. The whole complex has already been secured and is being swept by dogs and detectors. Within the hockey stadium there is a dedicated control centre with its own bank of screens monitoring 81 on-site cameras (59 fixed and 22 with pan, tilt, and zoom capacity). There are two 20-bed temporary hospitals set up in the complex and two mobile hospitals. Contingency is in place for aerial evacuation of the teams.

The stadium is expected to be full to its 22,000 capacity. Tickets for the event have been sold through special outlets such as banks, with biometric identification required, and identities verified through the National Database and Registration Authority. The biometrics will be used again when spectators enter checkpoints in each of the four concentric zones with the stadium at the centre. There will be body searches and scans at each stage. Within the crowd, plain-clothed police and special-branch officers will mingle.

For the journey from the hotel to the stadium, the same cavalcade will form and again take one of two routes. Two hundred and twenty-seven cameras have been installed at 71 sites to monitor progress. The journey, as with that from the airport, will take around six minutes.

Now, though, we have some confusion. The team have been told that there will be a 4.30pm departure (three and a half hours before the match, although there is a closing ceremony first), while our delegation, due to travel in the same convoy, has been told it is half an hour later. The difference is split, but outside, in the hotel forecourt, it becomes chaotic. The players are installed in the buses, but a tidal wave of team owners and sponsors with their families and guests also disgorges from the hotel. Buses are boarded and disembarked again. There are too few places for everyone. At one point, some of the Pakistani players in the teams are placed in an unarmoured bus, which is far from satisfactory; the overseas players were unaffected and perhaps oblivious. It takes 20 minutes to sort it all out, all within the confines of the hotel grounds, but that, and the melee inside the hotel as the teams leave, will need rectifying in future. The cavalcade to the ground is rapid and uneventful.


Fans express their delight at the return of high-profile cricket to Pakistan © AFP
Inside the stadium, the ground is already filling fast when the teams arrive, but it is some time, after the entertainment of the closing show, before they take the field and walk a lap to greet the crowd. The perimeter of the playing area is around 20 metres from the fencing in front of the stands, but there were perhaps a hundred people within that area: performers, VIP guests and families for the most part. At one point some players were surrounded by well-wishers and selfie-seekers, attention they might have done without. The sterile Players, Management and Officials zone that embraces the dressing rooms seems less secure than it ought.

Perhaps this is nit-picking but that, as my fellow delegates are quick to point out, is what they are here to do: be mindful of the weakest link. The vetting procedure has been immense and the level of protection within the hotel and on the roads staggering. The chaos on the hotel forecourt can easily be addressed, and likewise the limited intrusion at the ground.

Throughout, I was afforded the same level of security as the teams (a visit I made on my own to the stadium the day after the match saw my car preceded by an outrider and flanked by two vehicles of elite forces). I felt completely comfortable in regard to my own safety. I subsequently was told that in any case, intelligence service intercepts had discovered that the intense nature of the security had acted as a deterrent, which prior knowledge might also have served to ease the doubts of those who while taking their own safety as a given, were nonetheless concerned about any incidents in the crowd beyond the stadium's security blanket.

The day after the match, Colonel Azam Khan, 20 years an intelligence officer and now the PCB's head of security, said that overall he was very satisfied. The process had begun ten days previously, he said, and 90% of the objective was to secure not just Lahore but the whole of Punjab. There was still some fine-tuning, he admitted, with "maybe a lack of some coordination at some operational points". But these too could be readily addressed and not repeated.

There will be natural questions. With so many resources concentrated at this event, did it dilute security elsewhere across Lahore and Punjab? How sustainable is such a security exercise in the future?

To the first: all major sporting events anywhere in the world require concentration of resources, so Pakistan is no different, but the short answer is that bringing international cricket back to Pakistan will be a slow and lengthy process. This has been a first tentative step in the right direction. The economic benefits of regular international cricket, even as a representation of a more normal society, would far outweigh the security costs. This security is merely a manifestation of the total revamping of policing in Punjab.

To the second, the most senior officials from across the province were drafted in for this exercise, but as Colonel Azam suggested, the security of the stadium was only 10% of the objective, with that of the whole of Lahore and the province paramount. In the next few years, resources such as those for Lahore will be rolled out in other cities: Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Multan, Gujranwala and Bahawalpur.

It is my hope to return in September, and, as things stand, I will do so without hesitation or any of the apprehensions I might have had this time. Between now and then, world-class players will be approached and asked if they will participate in what will be a second significant staging post on the way to bringing regular international cricket back to Pakistan. The success of the PSL final, and the testimony of those overseas players who took part, such as Darren Sammy and Dawid Malan, should go some way to assuaging doubts, and it may be that the advice of the security advisers to the national boards will have softened somewhat.

It was a fine occasion, and a small first step, but one that needed to be taken. Pakistan, not just Pakistan cricket, deserves it.

Please ask selvey to convince ECB to send England team to Pak. As he is so convinced he should try it with that emotion he showed in his article. PCB SHOULD REQUEST ECB instead of worthless BCB TO SEND THEIR TEAM SHOWING THIS ARTICLE AND PCB should employ MIKE to convince ECB. Leave bcb and request the best (ecb). You are just wasting your time requesting bd to tour,rather you should try ecb. Please do the later.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

I live in Toronto, i have lots of Pakistani friends, They always tell me, Bangladesh took the right decision, it's within their right not to visit Pakistan, if they think its unsafe. So those who living outside Pakistan think they took right decision, and it's not safe.

But you guys saying different things, so i don't get it.

Then don't send your womens or junior team then. Don't send anyone. In fact take your diplomats back to BD too because its not safe.

Also ask all the diplomats of all other countries to leave Pakistan. Tell China to take their 20,000 workforce out Pakistan too.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

Please ask selvey to convince ECB to send England team to Pak. As he is so convinced he should try it with that emotion he showed in his article. PCB SHOULD REQUEST ECB instead of worthless BCB TO SEND THEIR TEAM SHOWING THIS ARTICLE AND PCB should employ MIKE to convince ECB. Leave bcb and request the best (ecb). You are just wasting your time requesting bd to tour,rather you should try ecb. Please do the later.

PCB is asking BCB because we have sent our team to BD under ISIS threat 3 times now. Time to return the favor.

 

[Pakpak]

I live in Toronto, i have lots of Pakistani friends, They always tell me, Bangladesh took the right decision, it's within their right not to visit Pakistan, if they think its unsafe. So those who living outside Pakistan think they took right decision, and it's not safe.

But you guys saying different things, so i don't get it.

There is no way there can be a full tour, the cost is too high to shut down Lahore and ruin hotel/shops/local businesses. However there can be say 2 T20Is. 2 days, in and out. I was not in favor of teams coming but after the final I have changed my stance. Please read the report above too.

Ultimately there is little point in asking BCB, but by now you know how incompetent PCB is so I am not surprised they don't get the hint. I'd move on if I was the PCB and maybe convince teams to send in their 'A' teams and see how it progresses.

 

[imteaz]

Please ask selvey to convince ECB to send England team to Pak. As he is so convinced he should try it with that emotion he showed in his article. PCB SHOULD REQUEST ECB instead of worthless BCB TO SEND THEIR TEAM SHOWING THIS ARTICLE AND PCB should employ MIKE to convince ECB. Leave bcb and request the best (ecb). You are just wasting your time requesting bd to tour,rather you should try ecb. Please do the later.

I think Pakistan board should ask India, England and Australia to send their A team or high performanceteam along attach with this article. lets see their reaction.

 

[Pakpak]

Please ask selvey to convince ECB to send England team to Pak. As he is so convinced he should try it with that emotion he showed in his article. PCB SHOULD REQUEST ECB instead of worthless BCB TO SEND THEIR TEAM SHOWING THIS ARTICLE AND PCB should employ MIKE to convince ECB. Leave bcb and request the best (ecb). You are just wasting your time requesting bd to tour,rather you should try ecb. Please do the later.

As I said, I would personally forget BCB. And your board and any relations with Bangladesh. I'd move on and try and convince other teams or concentrate on putting up more PSL games in Pakistan. But I am not the PCB and PCB has no guts. All it knows is begging.

Also, it is not Selvey's job to convince anyone. His job was to tell the world, as part of the ICC delegation, whether the security was good or not.

 

[Nil Dhumrojal]

Is that the reason an Indian high commissioner was in charge of parliamentary election?

BCB can't decide anything without BCCI's approval?

BSF is in charge of Bangladesh border?

Most of people around the world don't know Bangladesh but they know us

and so on............
High performance squad does not mean any professional team from any age group like U-19, 23 or even 12.
Most likely they are wanna be cricketer like some 3rd division leagues who don't have future captained by some former players.

PCB is just wasting its time.

Are you sure,most for the good reason???!!!

 

[Shafi]

I live in Toronto, i have lots of Pakistani friends, They always tell me, Bangladesh took the right decision, it's within their right not to visit Pakistan, if they think its unsafe. So those who living outside Pakistan think they took right decision, and it's not safe.

But you guys saying different things, so i don't get it.

Its all about money!!! Otherwise people like SL and Sethi don't give a damn about begging to Bangladesh. Like you said Bangladesh does not need Pakistan, but they need India. So when they turn their back against you lets see which board will support you. Apart from Pakistan or may be Sri Lanka.

So if PCB is smart they should take it a note and keep their mouth shut and spread their helping hand when Bangladesh badly needs any help

 

[Pakpak]

I think Pakistan board should ask India, England and Australia to send their A team or high performanceteam along attach with this article. lets see their reaction.

India and Pakistan do not play, unless you've been asleep for the last decade. Australia did not tour us after 1998 and I am doubtful England will tour Pakistan unless other teams do first. In 2000's India, South Africa and NZ toured us and England followed soon after. PCB is trying to replace India by BCB this time around, forgetting they're as anti-Pakistani as BCCI.

 

[imteaz]

It's really sad to see, how some Pakistan member here attacking Bdesh. when i was teen i used to support Pakistan, and i am sure most of the Bdesh ppl support Pakistan against any other country in the world cup or any big event. I grown up watching Wasim akram, Waqar, Saqlain, my fav Saeed Anwarm It really sad that cricket not happening in Pakistan, but who fault? Its their security who couldn't stop the attack in 2009, so please admit the security failure and try to stabilize the situation and ask for small team such as Nepal, Afghanistan etc to visit your country, It will help in long term.

If those series goes successfully then you can ask West indies, Bd, or Sri Lanka. But at the current moment, no one would visit Pakistan no matter how tight the security is.

 

[Nil Dhumrojal]

I didn't know this. How is this different to your A team?

actually we dont have any proper structure for A team. For any series they are gathered from high performance team plus who are not considered as XI of national team .

 

[Pakpak]

It's really sad to see, how some Pakistan member here attacking Bdesh. when i was teen i used to support Pakistan, and i am sure most of the Bdesh ppl support Pakistan against any other country in the world cup or any big event. I grown up watching Wasim akram, Waqar, Saqlain, my fav Saeed Anwarm It really sad that cricket not happening in Pakistan, but who fault? Its their security who couldn't stop the attack in 2009, so please admit the security failure and try to stabilize the situation and ask for small team such as Nepal, Afghanistan etc to visit your country, It will help in long term.

If those series goes successfully then you can ask West indies, Bd, or Sri Lanka. But at the current moment, no one would visit Pakistan no matter how tight the security is.

You saying good things is all good, but no point coming here taunting us which is what you first post did. Bangladesh still supports Pakistan everytime we play in Dhaka and it means a lot (to me anyway) but your fans on PP, barring one or two posters, a disgrace.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

Our next move should be to decline this offer and also refuse NOCs for BPL.

 

[Nil Dhumrojal]

Our next move should be to decline this offer and also refuse NOCs for BPL.

correct,that would be great.

 

[Nil Dhumrojal]

aha, alright, so basically A-team

nope

 

[Messiah]

This is good news. Something is better than nothing. Not sure why some childish posters here are posting unnecessary posts. The quality of posts I am seeing on this forums is on a downward trend. Sad really...

 

[Pakpak]

This is good news. Something is better than nothing. Not sure why some childish posters here are posting unnecessary posts. The quality of posts I am seeing on this forums is on a downward trend. Sad really...

Well, we have you now to fix it.

 

[imteaz]

Our next move should be to decline this offer and also refuse NOCs for BPL.

Decline this offer? Dude you are begging for this, please send something if not National team. So we are like okay we will send high performance team, and your board is happy and smiling as they achieve something.

 

[Eagle_Eye]

Pcb should Stop this utter nonsense and giving Bangladesh all this importance... its a minnow firmly entrenched in Indian camp under the Hasina gov.... just forget it, they wont be doing you any favours anytime soon. Why this annual drama from Pcb. Just learn your lesson and limit the matches against them to ICC events.

 

[UN talkz]

this is nice it has to be done like this changing gears rather dan fetching the top gear at once
BUT GUYS I JUST DONT UNDERSTAND THIS BANGLA LOGIC THEY CANT SEND THEIR NATIONAL MENS TEAM BUT CAN SEND NATIONAL WOMENZ AND HIGH PAAARFAAAARMAAAANCE TEAMS..... IF THERE ARE SECURITY THREATS TO THEM THEN Y SEND JUNIORS AND WOMEN TEAM ARE THEY SOMETHING INFERIOR OR MAYBE ALIENS ABT WHOM U DNT NEED TO CARE.....
THID IS RUBBISH FROM CRICKET BANGLA

 

[WC-Passion]

I was thinking the same so the BCB believe that their high performance squad lives are less in value then their national squad given their alleged "security" concerns; their initial reasoning doesn't add up now because you either tour or you don't especially when security is the main issue regardless. Talk about biting the hand that fed them, Pakistan made Bangladesh pretty much on every level

Exactly, some "foul-play" is going on here.

 

[Muhammad10]

Post sensibly and keep political arguments off this thread.

 

[MMHS]

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shahryar Khan told reporters in Colombo that a Bangladesh High Performance team will go to Pakistan to play against the Pakistan High Performance squad, a tour tentatively slated for this July.

"Bangladesh is agreeable to send its high performance team to Pakistan, which is a big step," said Khan to Bangladesh reporters after an informal meeting between the heads of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and Khan himself.

"They will play in Pakistan against our high performance team. I think this time around the ICC wants us to play in July, but we will finalise the actual dates later."

Speaking earlier, BCB boss Nazmul Hassan had said that Bangladesh would be sending junior teams to Pakistan.

Khan said that Bangladesh's national team were not yet ready to tour Pakistan, a country closed off to hosting international matches since the Lahore terrorist attacks on the Sri Lanka team bus in 2009.

"As regards to the national team they are not yet ready to come to Pakistan, but we could play either in Bangladesh or in a third country, which is acceptable to both sides, or we could even do it in Sri Lanka. But the tour is on," he said, although not giving details as to the time frame.

BCB boss Hassan had also said that Pakistan's tour of Bangladesh in July-August this year is slated to go ahead as planned, and his PCB counterpart seemed to agree, albeit hinting at some financial back and forth and an 'assurance' he was given.

"Yes in July-August. We also have to agree on a financial model because this is the third time that Pakistan is playing Bangladesh in Bangladesh, which becomes a bit lop-sided. I am assured that once we are able to have the two HP teams [the other being a return visit to Bangladesh by the Pakistan HP team] coming, the next time around the Bangladesh cricket team will come to Pakistan."

http://www.thedailystar.net/sports/bangladesh-hp-team-visit-pakistan-pcb-boss-1385137

Finally some common sense from PCB & Shahriar - thank God that quickly he realized, those legal or boycott "threats" won't work much. PCB has to work with every board to maximize it's benefit & represent PAK cricket as a mature cricket country. These sort of hollow statement only makes them a laughing stock at global forum. "Bangladesh is agreeable to send its high performance team to Pakistan, which is a big step," said Khan - this is a big step in building positive relationship, for further progression in future (hope Khan doesn't go for his usual U-turn couple of days later

Both PCB & BCB can make lot more money for a Series in SRL or even in BD with a revenue sharing model. Besides, BD HP team is almost the next batch of National team - it'll be great exposure for the boys from both sides. I can only fell pity for the ignorance for those who think some day labors under the cover of HP team will sneak into PAK's massive job market as if like they do during Olympics ..... stay blessed - Pakistan, it's still a bit behind USA, EU or Canada or Australia). An extended Series in BD or a short trip in SRL is the perfect solution for the time being.

Regarding the value of life for Women or HP team; I think, it'll be a bit foolish & immature to relate it to respective value of human life - few months back AUS Army team toured PAK, probably couple of years back another such English team as well; that doesn't mean that David Warner's life is more valuable than an Aussie soldier.

I hope maturity prevails in PP as well - it'll turn unpleasant in future for anyone who thinks themselves to be too smart - I understand, it's too easy to hide behind another user ID in PP, still..... PAK has to overcome the biggest obstacle in such situation - credibility. Only mature & constructive steps can take it out of that self created mess gradually - Presidential security by SSG & attack helicopters won't help much. Papon is an MP of ruling party (& son of previous president Zillur Rahman, one of founder leader of BD Awami League; his mother Ivy Rahman died in a bomb blast in 2002, at a public gathering, led by Hasina Wazed & Papon's father Zillur Rahman) - when they have agreed to send the HP team & play bilateral series outside FTP, it's only a matter of time that Bangladesh will tour PAK - only some show jumping at PCB end can spoil it.

 

[cricketjoshila]

Is that the reason an Indian high commissioner was in charge of parliamentary election?

BCB can't decide anything without BCCI's approval?

BSF is in charge of Bangladesh border?

Most of people around the world don't know Bangladesh but they know us

and so on............
High performance squad does not mean any professional team from any age group like U-19, 23 or even 12.
Most likely they are wanna be cricketer like some 3rd division leagues who don't have future captained by some former players.

PCB is just wasting its time.

Lets suppose that Indian HC was incharge of BD elections and BSF guards BD borders and everything else. How is it of any concern of anyone else except Bangladeshis?If they are happy with the arrangement why anyone else should have any issue.Not that what you say is true.

COme down from your high horse if you believe no one knows Bangladesh,they are big country and well known.What makes you think they are any inferior to you?


This thread is strange.BD refuses to tour Pakistan, well no country has toured Pakistan since 2009, except ZIM. So what BD has done is nothing unprecedented.Why bash them?If you want to bash them then bash every team that is not touring BD.Why single out BD?I hope some one answers this.

The second thing is whether Sheikh Hasina or anyone else is BD PM or whatever is their foreign policy its their problem,no one else can decide it for them.As long as they are ok with it everyone just have to deal with it.

Another thing that is being mentioned here is that Pakistan lost to BD in 1999 willingy and deliberately.Are you guys saying that the Pakistan Team/Board/Players deliberately threw a WC match?If they did then thats fixing and a criminal offence.

Pakistani supporters here have mentioned about the security for PSL final.I opened a thread praising that security and i stand by the fact that security was top notch.But correct me if i am wrong the foreign players flew in the same day,played the match and flew out.So its not the same with BD,they will have to stay,practice every day etc.Again i think the security will be great but PCB needs to try and convince every board about it,trying to bully BCB wont work.

May be PCB should try hold one off matches or may be they should do this, Bring the players and station them in Mohali,India.Fly them in for the match to Lahore and then they return back to India.Talk to BCCI and GOI on this. Play a three match series like this.Then the players will develop confidence in the security and may be they will play a series in Pakistan like it used to be.

Bashing anyone,arm twisting etc wont work.PCB has to mend its relations with the boards,convince them.Not antagonise them.

I had said long ago that one of the best multi national series i had ever watched was the four nation Will Golden JUbilee tournament in Pakistan.I hope such days return to Pakistan

 

[Pakpak]

Lets suppose that Indian HC was incharge of BD elections and BSF guards BD borders and everything else. How is it of any concern of anyone else except Bangladeshis?If they are happy with the arrangement why anyone else should have any issue.Not that what you say is true.

COme down from your high horse if you believe no one knows Bangladesh,they are big country and well known.What makes you think they are any inferior to you?


This thread is strange.BD refuses to tour Pakistan, well no country has toured Pakistan since 2009, except ZIM. So what BD has done is nothing unprecedented.Why bash them?If you want to bash them then bash every team that is not touring BD.Why single out BD?I hope some one answers this.

The second thing is whether Sheikh Hasina or anyone else is BD PM or whatever is their foreign policy its their problem,no one else can decide it for them.As long as they are ok with it everyone just have to deal with it.

Another thing that is being mentioned here is that Pakistan lost to BD in 1999 willingy and deliberately.Are you guys saying that the Pakistan Team/Board/Players deliberately threw a WC match?If they did then thats fixing and a criminal offence.

Pakistani supporters here have mentioned about the security for PSL final.I opened a thread praising that security and i stand by the fact that security was top notch.But correct me if i am wrong the foreign players flew in the same day,played the match and flew out.So its not the same with BD,they will have to stay,practice every day etc.Again i think the security will be great but PCB needs to try and convince every board about it,trying to bully BCB wont work.

May be PCB should try hold one off matches or may be they should do this, Bring the players and station them in Mohali,India.Fly them in for the match to Lahore and then they return back to India.Talk to BCCI and GOI on this. Play a three match series like this.Then the players will develop confidence in the security and may be they will play a series in Pakistan like it used to be.

Bashing anyone,arm twisting etc wont work.PCB has to mend its relations with the boards,convince them.Not antagonise them.

I had said long ago that one of the best multi national series i had ever watched was the four nation Will Golden JUbilee tournament in Pakistan.I hope such days return to Pakistan

Minor correction, the players stayed for a night at the hotel.

 

[Borg]

Pakistan fans need to get their emotions under control and think rationally, the fact is that PCB is not doing itself any favors advertising the so-called "invitations" and then getting rejected. Any sane board will do this in private until a decision from other side is made. If your ego's are hurt because a country with over inflated views of itself (in your view) rejects the invitation , then dont put yourself in a position where you publicly get rejected. Anger should be directed at PCB not BCB.

Having said this, Bangla fans usual over the top self grandising views dont help, if anyone thinks politics is not a factor in this, they kidding themselves. Just remember, the scourge of terrorism can strike anywhere god forbid, BD as a nation has the same core element that plagues other muslim nations, not too long ago BCB was facing down the same barrell, just because it turned out differently, it doesnt mean that a few years down the road BD will not be facing same problems.

On a personal note, under no circumstance should pakistan play in BD ( due to home advantage to BD). Infact if UAE is too expensive, postpone the series altogether in cricketing terms there is no upside in playing BD.