LAHORE: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has categorically stated that while it sympathizes with Pakistan over the postponed Bangladesh tour, it cannot interfere in the matters between the two countries, the Press Trust of India reported.

The matter was discussed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat during a meeting in Dubai earlier this week.

“The PCB officials apprised Lorgat and ICC officials of the situation and pointed out that it was perhaps for the first time in cricket history that a team had postponed a tour to another country because of a court order,” a board official said.

“Lorgat was briefed that the PCB's legal team had gone through the order of the Dhaka High Court restraining the Bangladesh team from touring Pakistan due to security concerns and noted that the petition on the basis of which the court gave the injunction didn't have enough merit,” he said.

However, it was agreed that Pakistan needed to resume international cricket.

“But the ICC's outgoing CEO agreed that it was imperative that Pakistan needed to resume intentional cricket at home.”

The PCB has also informed the ICC about its plan to initiate a T-20 competition in Pakistan, the official said.

“The ICC officials agreed that the Pakistan Premier League (PPL), if held successfully with the participation of some foreign players, could go a long way in reviving international cricket in Pakistan,” the official said.

A source said that the PCB was looking for assistance from the ICC to convince foreign players to take part in the proposed league.