SAHIWAL: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf is confident that Bangladesh government and Bangladesh Cricket Board will allow their cricket team to tour Pakistan.

“The [Bangladesh team’s] visit will end Pakistan’s international cricket isolation,” Zaka told Dawn during his brief visit to the city on Thursday evening.

Pakistan hasn’t hosted an international cricket match since March 2009 when the Sri Lankan cricket team bus was attacked by terrorists on its way to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Zaka added that bringing international cricket back to Pakistan was his main aim.

“From day one after taking charge as the PCB chairman, I have been committed to and our isolation from world cricket,” hesaid.

“Convincing Australia, England and West Indies to tour Pakistan is definitely a difficult task but I’ve tried my best to convince the Bangladesh government to send their team.”

The PCB chairman said match-fixing was an individual act and the Board should not be blamed if any player gets involved in it.He said cricket at grass-roots level in the country was on decline.

“Over the last couple of years, little talent has come up from the grass-roots level but we are trying to address that issue by organising talent hunt camps in all district headquarters,” he added.

Zaka said Pakistan needed another coach after Aaqib Javed’s departure to Dubai although they had engaged former Test pace bowler Sarfraz Nawaz for a short period.

By Our Correspondent