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DUBAI: Cricket’s governing body will carry out a proper assessment of security in Pakistan before deciding on sending match officials for a proposed tour by Bangladesh, an official said Wednesday.
International cricket has been suspended in Pakistan since terror attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus in March 2009, which killed eight people and left seven visiting players and their assistant coach wounded in Lahore.
The attacks also injured reserve umpire Ahsan Raza of Pakistan and horrified match referee Chris Broad of England and Australian match umpires Simon Taufel and Steve Davis.
The incident forced Pakistan to play its home series at neutral venues.
Their team is currently playing England in the United Arab Emirates.
Pakistan have invited Bangladesh for a three-match one-day series in April this year in their bid to revive international cricket at home.
The Bangladesh government will send a delegation to Pakistan in mid-February to assess security in the country before clearing the tour.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) had formed a Task Team to revive cricket in Pakistan in 2009.
The ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said the ICC will carry out their own assessment before sending match umpires and referees for the Bangladesh series, once it is cleared.
“Safety and security is a serious issue,” said Lorgat in reply to a question whether the ICC will send officials to Pakistan.
“There are grave responsibilities on any of us who send teams or match officials (to Pakistan) and we need to do a proper assessment before we come to any conclusion about touring Pakistan.”
Lorgat said the Board meeting in Dubai did not discuss the possibilities of international cricket returning to Pakistan.
“The board did not discuss international cricket returning to Pakistan as you all know they are presently engaged with a potential tour from Bangladesh and I think we need to see what unfolds before we get into that sort of discussion.
