Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB)’s refusal to send their team to Pakistan should clear the misconceptions that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been carrying with respect to the perceived bond of friendship that exists among the South Asian neighbours.

It is unfortunate that people at the helm that have been given the responsibility to work towards betterment of the game, are more interested in political maneuverings for some vague benefits.

The efforts of Zaka Ashraf — the newly appointed chairman of the PCB — to bring back international cricket to Pakistan have been widely appreciated; however, he has also been accused of pressurising the BCB to send their cricket team to war-torn Pakistan in return for PCB’s wholehearted support to Bangladesh’s Mustafa Kamal in getting nomination for the post of vice-president of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

This sordid episode, in addition to a few previous events, just goes to show the misguided path that the PCB is treading. Over the past couple of years, the PCB has been trying desperately hard to convince the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to allow the Indian team to play bilateral series against its team.

The PCB argues that an Indo-Pak series is bigger than the Ashes and that such a series can bring in big money for the two cricket boards.

While it is true that a series featuring the arch rivals has the potential to become an iconic fixture but interestingly, such calls have not yet come from the other side of the border.

The BCCI looks quite happy keeping Pakistan out of their Future Tours Program (FTP) for the next eight years or so and seem content playing against all other opposition either at home or abroad.

Another source of dissatisfaction and frustration for the PCB and its players is the Indian Premiere League (IPL).

Following the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, the BCCI has shunned the Pakistani cricketers from taking part in the glitzy League. Despite frantic calls by the PCB and its players, the BCCI has not budged from its stance and insists on having players from all countries except Pakistan.

Quite regrettably, the snub has not prevented the Pakistani umpires and commentators to gladly accept assignments at the lucrative event.

The point that the PCB must understand is that not being able to play against India is not the end of the world, especially considering that fact that team is getting enough opportunities to show its mettle against other quality opposition.

Similarly, the players need to realise that competing in the IPL is not the pinnacle of the game; they have just whitewashed the No. 1 Test team and have received wide acclaim for the extraordinary achievement.

All that the PCB needs to do now is show some self respect and try to inculcate the same virtue in its players and officials as well.

Even as a team, Pakistan has achieved some remarkable victories including the World Cup 1992. As a cricketing body, the PCB (then BCCP) was responsible for introducing the concept of neutral umpires in Test matches, something which was taken up by the cricketing world later on.

PCB’s firm and justified stance on the Inzamam ball-tampering saga also went a long way in establishing Pakistan’s pride and prestige as a cricketing nation.

The PCB should realise that focus on responsible cricketing initiatives and efforts to improve the game are the only things that can bring it respect; indulging in political scheming and power struggle will only serve to undermine the country’s cricket.

Supporting Bangladesh in their cause for getting Test status is an unfortunate example where the PCB — along with their partners of the so-called ‘Asian bloc’, compromised on the quality of the game just in order to have an extra Asian vote at the ICC.

The PCB should also realise that bringing back international cricket to Pakistan is not something that falls in its domain. Terrorism is a political rather than a cricketing issue and hence needs to be tackled by the elected government.

It must not be forgotten that in spite of PCB’s well-intentioned promises, the inept security provided by the incompetent authorities allowed the terrorists to attack the Sri Lankan team. Such an incident cannot be allowed to happen again.

Hence, it is advisable for the PCB to just wait for the situation to normalise before it starts inviting the foreign teams. This will also go a long way in establishing the credibility of the PCB.