Cricket lovers here have received with dismay the news of Bangladesh cancelling the tour of its national squad which was to play a one-day international and a T20 match at Qaddafi Stadium Lahore. Had Bangladesh stuck to its commitment to pay this short visit, other cricketing countries might have been tempted to visit also. It could have also helped the two countries come still closer to the discomfiture of those wanting to keep them apart. Someone at the behest of unknown quarters filed a petition in Dhaka High Court seeking cancellation of the proposed tour. The court ordered the cricket authorities to explain why the tour was scheduled despite concerns over the team’s safety. It was in 2009 that the visiting Sri Lankan cricket team was attacked by militants when the ICC decided to ban visits of cricket playing teams to Pakistan.
This decision has caused serious concern among the people here. Some even say that under the premiership of Sheikh Hasina Wajid, nothing else could be expected and that the court decision was both biased and harmful to the existing ties between the two countries; it was at least too harsh and not in line with the aspirations of the people of both countries.