PCB chief blames Punjab govt for cancellation of Bangla tour

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Press Trust of India Karachi
Last Updated : Jan 24 2013 | 1:49 AM IST

Speaking to a TV channel, Ashraf said one statement from the Punjab government had ruined the chances of Bangladesh playing in Pakistan.

"The statement made by the Punjab government was that it was not aware of the Bangladesh team's tour to Lahore and so how could it provide security damaged the tour," Ashraf said.

"The statement sent out a wrong message to the outside world and to the Bangladesh Cricket Board. Believe me everything was in place for the series to take place and we had even started printing of tickets for the two matches and other arrangements were also being put into place," he said.

Ashraf, who was nominated as Chairman of the board last October by President Asif Zardari, is also a member of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party executive council and a well known politician.

Analysts say his presence at the PCB led to the fallout between the Board and the Punjab government which is ruled by the opposition Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz group.

Bangladesh called off the short tour to Pakistan, which would have been the first by any Test-playing nation since 2009, after discrepancies crept into statements made by the central and Punjab government officials on security arrangements for the visiting team. MORE

  

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First Published: Jun 12 2012 | 9:35 AM IST