Pakistani stars barred from BPL
The Khulna Royal Bengals will be the franchise most affected by the development, as they had bought the services of Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal (pictured), Awais Zia, Umar Amin, Ahmed Shehzad, Haris Sohail and Bilawal Bhatti. -File photo
Bangladesh cricket chiefs said on Wednesday that Pakistan had refused to release any of its players for a Twenty20 competition which begins this week after a planned bilateral series had to be scrapped.
Pakistan had been due to host Bangladesh for a Twenty20 game and a 50-over match in Lahore this month in what would have been its first home internationals since a deadly attack on the Sri Lankan team bus nearly four years ago.
But the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) cancelled the tour, saying Pakistan was not safe for its players.
According to a BCB spokesman, Pakistan has now responded by preventing any of its stars from competing in the Bangladesh Premier League which begins Thursday.
“The chief executive officer of PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) called our CEO today and informed him that they won’t allow Pakistani players to play in the BPL until we send our team to their country,” spokesman Jalal Yunus told AFP.
“We’ve now decided to host the event without Pakistani players,” he said, adding the BPL’s seven franchises would now find replacements for the 26 Pakistani players they bought in the auction last month.
The move represents a major blow for the second edition of the BPL since Pakistani cricketers have a big following in Bangladesh.
More than 50 Pakistani players took part in the auction for the second edition of BPL, with opening batsman Imran Nazir fetching $280,000.
Last year more than 20 Pakistani players took part in the inaugural edition, with all-rounder Shahid Afridi sold for the highest fee of $700,000.
No international matches have taken place in Pakistan since the militant attack on the Sri Lankan team bus that killed eight people in March 2009.
Spokesman Yunus said Bangladesh has not ruled out touring Pakistan in the coming months but wanted to reassess the security situation before sending a team.
Bangladesh was also due to tour Pakistan last April, but the tour was blocked by the Dhaka High Court on security grounds.
As a Bangladeshi I think BCB should send his team to Pakistan by getting proper security. BCB and PCB should immediately arrange face to face meeting to clear the mesh up and being friendly. I hope BCB will be by the side of PCB as Pakistani brother need us. Don’t worry bad time doesn’t stay long.
Bangladesh Cricket Board needs to behave in a civilized manner by honoring private and public agreements with PCB to tour Pakistan. Of all the teams Bangaldesh team should feel the most home and loved in Pakstan. Shame on BCB for bringing their own little petty politics in cricket. I say ignore them we have our own domestic circuit.
If Syrian government ask Pakistan Cricket Team to play a friendly match into their country right now, will they play over there? If no then i should say BCB has taken a brave decision for not sending their team to play in Pakistan while the security condition is not up to the level. Dear all Pakistani brother we are definately want to tour your country but you all should realise the security situation also. Even though the bomb has been blast in Janaja Namaz also how could PCB arrange an international game? If anything happen to the foreign player again then Pakistan will lost the chance forever to host international cricket. Now, the decision for not sending the Pakistani player to BPL is the worse decision, i think some one spoil Mr. Zaka’s name.
The news got twisted here, rather go to cricinfo for the original news, what I heard BCB was agreed to send BD team to pakistan after security check. But PCB day before yesterday said to BCB that if BCB can’t confirm the date of BD teams arrival in Pakistan they won’t leave Pak players for BPL. Later BPL has no alternative but to proceed with pak players. How funny to see the Dawn type twisting. What I found its a total blackmail from PCB side.
which article was that. i go to cricinfo regular ,never seen anything like this reported.
Waiting for AFRIDI’S REACTION!
I hope Bangladesh players will still be allowed to play the high profile PPL
welldone pcb all pakistani nation support on on this decsion
Bang la can not run without of India interfering Bangladesh has no choice but to fallow India Pakistan team is doing much better then India and Bangla both put together Pakistan zindabad. Long live PCB it is the correct decision by PCB.!!!
Its amazing to see how you guys drag India in everything !
! India-Phobic ?
Very good decision by PCB. 100% support for it.
So for all international players, who played first edition of BPL ,are yet to be paid by Bangladesh cricket board ….BPL stands for Bangladesh Payless League
So for all international players, who played first edition of BPL ,are yet to be paid by Bangladesh cricket board ….BPL stands for Bangladesh Payless League.
PCB is just being egoistic, anyone can see that security in the country is not good, its not good for the locals so how can you expect International players to risk their lives to come and play in Pakistan. This decision will hurt ties with BCB and also deprive players financially.
This is the policy of Hasena Wajid Government not to have any Political, business and Sports relation with Pakistan. Lets hope that Khalida Zia Government comes in this year election and all political, business and sports relationship resumes with Pakistan again.
given d current turmoil i think bcb has done d right thing…..bt pcb reaction is uncalled for
I couldnot understand if PCB is dumb or acting dumb. Why it is so hard for PCB to accept that Pak is not a safe place to visit and play Cricket. When Pak ministers and army are not safe , how can one come an dplay in Pakistan. Bangladesh is correct in their stand.
Thanks to PCB for not to send their players to play in Bangladesh Premier League ( BPL ) . Now we can enjoy some exciting real cricket without any match fixing scandal .
By doing this, PCB again proved that how autocratic their so called democracy is. Bangladesh was not coming, there was a reason for that. Remember, this is not only BCB decision, even though BCB would decide to come, someone can just go to the course and stop this as b4.
But what Pakistan can do, allow this cricketers to play and have BCB rethink their strategy. Bangladeshi people don’t think Pak people as enemies. By doing this, PCB could get their support.
Bangladesh economy is booming 7.2% growth expecting this year. Last 10 years growth was atleast 6%. Means, B’desh have money and with money you can buy any player. But Pak just dropped the ball. Now it would be new era of cricket politics. More importantly. B’desh people would be dishearten and you will see that reflection soon.