Speaking to the media at NCA, Chairman PCB Zaka Ashraf thanked the Bangladesh Cricket Board and their government for agreeing to send their cricket team to Pakistan in an attempt to revive international cricket in the country. A hopeful Zaka Ashraf also spoke of a possible domestic league in Pakistan featuring international cricketers from around the globe.

 by Nimra Ishtiaq (18th April 2012)

Speaking to the media at the National Cricket Academy Lahore, the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board Zaka Ashraf thanked the Bangladesh Cricket Board and their government for agreeing to send their cricket team to Pakistan in an attempt to revive international cricket in the country. A hopeful Zaka Ashraf also spoke of a possible domestic league in Pakistan featuring international cricketers from around the globe.

"We had been in talks with Bangladesh for the last six months. Bangladesh is a Muslim country, they are our brothers. Bangladesh cricket has improved immensely. I'm pleased to see the way their chairman Mustafa Kamal has motivated the team and the team played the final of the Asia Cup against Pakistan for the first time in history."

He added "If you look at the history, Pakistan has always supported Bangladesh. Pakistan played a supportive role at the time of the awarding of the Test status to Bangladesh."

"Bangladesh is coming to Pakistan and we are thankful to their players, their board, their Patron and their government. It was a tough time for us because teams were reluctant to tour Pakistan."

Ashraf further added "This is 2012. Thankfully, the situation is very much different to what it was in 2009. We recently invited the British Universities team. Ample security was provided to them and thanks to ALLAH, there was no unpleasant incident. Pakistan is a safe place to play cricket."

"It's not only about cricket. Revival of international cricket in Pakistan also has a lot of economic benefits. We all have to work together in the national interest."

The Chairman PCB revealed that the CEO of the International Cricket Council Haroon Lorgat will be visiting Pakistan during the Bangladesh tour to Pakistan and that the PCB has also invited some other dignitaries to come and witness the two matches in Pakistan. He stated "The ICC CEO will be our special guest for the matches. I have also sent an invitation to Mr. Sharad Powar who is the Indian Minister as well as the ICC President. Moreover, I have sent invitations to the heads/Chairmen of all of the cricket boards. We have also invited the legends of international cricket to come and witness the series."

Some media reports coming in from Dhaka suggested that the Bangladesh Cricket Committee was not keen on Bangladesh cricket team's tour to Pakistan. There have been some protests by the public against the President BCB Mustafa Kamal's decision to confirm the tour. Commenting on the subject, Zaka Ashraf stated "Bangladesh Cricket Board has already confirmed the tour. Even the ICC has approved of it now. I don't know why the media is coming up with such trivial things."

Zaka Ashraf also dismissed the uncertainty surrounding the issue of the ICC sending its officials to Pakistan for the two matches. "The match officials are coming. They have agreed."

Zaka Ashraf also thanked the ICC for approving of the tour and encouraging the PCB to the revive international cricket in Pakistan and expressed his hope that other teams will follow Bangladesh's lead and start touring Pakistan. He stated "The Bangladesh team's tour will break the ice."

"Once the Bangladesh tour is over, we will then look into the League matches. I have talked with the ICC and they have appreciated it and encouraged us."

"Our League matches - this is how international cricket will return to Pakistan. I've been getting a good response. A lot of international players have said that they will come and play in Pakistan if such a league materialises."

"The Bangladesh tour will happen, and then there will be international players coming in for the League. That will pave the way for other teams to come to Pakistan." 

On being asked when the aforesaid domestic league is scheduled for, Zaka Ashraf stated "It will be held this year - in September-October hopefully." 

In response to the inevitable question that whether Pakistan will invite Indian players to participate in the domestic league or not, Ashraf said "We are bighearted. We will invite players from all around the world. It's up to India if they come or not. We are concerned with cricket, not politics."

Zaka Ashraf was also hopeful of reviving cricketing ties with India and said that President Asif Ali Zardari's visit to India would be helpful in this regard. He stated "The Indian cricket board's Chairman said to me that looking at what's been going on (regarding our talks with the other cricket boards), they've been compelled to think about Pakistan now. So I think the ice is starting to melt. I'm thankful to ALLAH that our board and our administration has been able to get a positive response from India."