KARACHI: The future of Bangladesh’s scheduled trip to Pakistan still remains in limbo, but the message is loud clear from the PCB: Either they come or give a valid reason for not honouring their commitment.

Ehsan Mani reiterated the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s stance on the thorny issue when the board chairman on Monday praised Sri Lanka for taking the lead by travelling to Pakistan and playing the Test series without any fears.

“Bringing [international] cricket back to Pakistan was the most important goal we had. In the past we staged the Pakistan Super League, while the women’s foreign teams came as well as ‘A’ sides,” Mani said during a rescheduled media briefing at the National Stadium. “But having Sri Lanka coming over and playing Test matches was a real achievement for all of us, our fans and everyone here. This series [against Sri Lanka] was a landmark event.

“Now the whole world knows topflight cricket has returned to Pakistan and the country is completely safe. There was not a single incident and the Sri Lankans were very happy to be playing again in Pakistan after almost 11 years.

“In fact on the contrary they wanted more freedom in terms of movement and sampling the day-to-day life in Pakistan. That will happen in due course and people slowly get more comfortable, their confidence will also go high. The Tests in Rawalpindi and Karachi were the turning points for Pakistan cricket as far I know.”

Mani plainly stated the overseas players are more than willing to tour Pakistan. “Before the PSL draft, 425 foreign players indicated interest in participating in the next edition, which was great to see. As far as the cricketers are concerned, they view Pakistan as safe as any place on the planet. That was the real indicator for me that the players want to visit Pakistan.”

Giving his views on the Bangladesh series of three Twenty20 Internationals and two Tests scheduled here next month, Mani strongly said: “No one should be under any misapprehension as to where Pakistan’s home Tests [against Bangladesh and other nations in future] would take place. All of Pakistan’s matches, against Bangladesh will take place in Pakistan and no one should be in any doubt about this.

“I still hope the BCB [Bangladesh Cricket Board] will reflect on the matter and accept there is no reason for them not to visit Pakistan. If Sri Lanka can come — and bringing them was very high risk because they the ones who suffered in 2009 — then it is safe.

“I have been around with the ICC for a long time and know how it works. Any nation refraining from touring us must prove Pakistan is not safe. We think it’s safe, and we’ve shown the world it’s safe. What happened in Christchurch [with the Bangladesh team earlier this year] was very unfortunate; these sorts of incidents happen all around the world. India is in far greater turmoil from a security perspective now than Pakistan is.

“We will listen to everyone who is worried about coming here, but ultimately they’ll have to prove it isn’t safe to come here. We are not putting them (Bangladesh] under doubts, but if they have to play us, they’ll play in Pakistan.”—KHK

Published in Dawn, December 24th, 2019