Lahore January 16, 2013: Commenting on the developments pertaining to Pakistani players non-participation in Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), the Spokesman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) commented “As per practice and procedures in vogue, a home Board has to approach the visiting players’ parent Board seeking release of its players for their domestic cricket competitions. In BPL’s case, BCB, their representatives or the players’ agents were in contact directly with the Pakistani players and PCB was kept out of this process. Even the auction of Pakistani players at BPL was done without PCB’s prior permission or intimation.”
“There are great embarrassments when boards are by passed and players approached directly. This was regrettably felt by BCB when they approached PCB at the last moment for release of the players for their league.”
PCB, historically, has been extremely supportive of BCB. On request of BCB the PCB released its players for the first edition of BPL in 2012. PCB also supported Mustaf Kamal’s candidacy as Vice President of ICC.
“The BCB committed to tour Pakistan in March 2012, this initiative was also supported by ICC. But in an incident unprecedented in the history of world cricket, a court issued stay orders against a mutually agreed tour. The BCB promised again to tour Pakistan on January 10th but backed off once again. The BCB needs to take a step forward in reciprocation.”
PCB feels that contacting players without taking the PCB in loop was not right on part of Bangladesh Cricket Board.
