Pakistan tour delayed
18/03/2009 5:10 AM
Pakistan's tour of Bangladesh hangs in the balance with the government still undecided about granting clearance for the limited-overs series.
Pakistan was scheduled to play two Twenty20 games and five one-day internationals on a tour beginning in Dhaka on March 10.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), however, postponed the series on the advice of the government due to security concerns following the terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka cricket team in Lahore and the border security forces mutiny.
The BCB had expected a decision on clearance on Tuesday, but home secretary Abdus Subhan Shikder said the government was yet to make a decision.
"We haven't decided the matter yet," he said. "Perhaps we will not give security clearance.
"We need to look at intelligence reports before making a decision."
The BCB had hoped to have the tour between March 26 and April 10 and media committee chairman Jalal Yunus said: "To hold the series within that time frame the board needs an immediate go-ahead because of time constraints.
"Nimbus, which holds the TV rights, need a quick decision as they have to bring in the equipment for live coverage.
"We need to have a decision one way or another."
Bangladesh cannot schedule the tour beyond April 10 because captain Mohammad Ashraful and vice-captain Mashrafe bin Mortaza have contracts with Indian Premier League teams