Pakistan's cricket tour to Bangladesh postponed

Pakistan cricket tour to Bangladesh schedule for this month has been postponed and a fresh itinerary will be announced later, said the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) in a statement released in its website on Thursday.

Owing to the Tuesday terror attack on Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore, the tour has been postponed on advice of Bangladesh authority, BCB said while regretting for the inconvenience caused.

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Pakistan was scheduled to play two Twenty20 and a five-match One-Day series starting from March 10, however, soon after terror attack, the Pakistan Cricket Board itself had asked for government permission to travel to Bangladesh. While Bangladesh itself is facing political turmoil after the mutiny by border security forces few days ago.

On Tuesday, as many as 12 unidentified gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team bus with rifles and hand grenades, wounding six players and killing seven Pakistani police personnel. The attack exposed the vulnerability of Pakistan’s security apparatus amid internal turbulence.

The attack on sport persons has brought strong condemnation from world cricket community which might have broader ramification as far as cricket in Pakistan is concerned. Teams and individual players from various nations have made known their reservation in travelling to Pakistan for any future tournament.

Earlier on Tuesday, Bangladesh cricket administration had condemned the attack on Lankan players and expressed its solidarity with the players saying: “The BCB is deeply concerned at this unprecedented attack on cricket which is a symbol of hope and aspiration for millions in the Sub-continent and around the world. We are saddened by the unfortunate events and express solidarity with the players, match officials and victims of the attack."