Interior minister Rehman Malik on Tuesday promised comprehensive security to the Bangladesh cricket team if they become the first international side to tour the country in more than three years. “I welcome the Bangladesh cricket team,” Malik said.Malik has already talked to Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Zaka Ashraf about the proposed visit of Bangladesh in April and the minister will meet with the PCB chief on Wednesday. “I will assure him (Ashraf) full security,” Malik said. “I am designing a special task force, which will do a security survey,” he added. Foreign cricket teams stopped touring Pakistan since March 2009, after an attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in which six police officials and a van driver were killed.
Last month, China’s hockey team toured Pakistan and played matches in Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad without any untoward incident.
Malik said the tour of the Chinese hockey team had given him confidence that the security situation has improved in Pakistan. “The situation has improved and we will take all measures to improve it further,” Malik said. Last month Ashraf briefed Bangladesh Cricket Board officials on the proposed tour in the hope that it can revive international cricket in Pakistan.United Arab Emirates has been Pakistan’s main ‘home’ venue over the last three years. Although the itinerary of the Bangladesh tour is yet to be finalised, Ashraf had said that even a few international matches in Pakistan would help in removing the security fears of other foreign teams. Malik said that visiting teams will be provided with “box security”, which means they would travel in bulletproof and bombproof buses and be cordoned by four other bulletproof, bombproof vehicles.
Why would one trust Rehman Malik . he always makes tall claims. He cannot provide security to common citizens of Pakistan, No one that country can set foot outside their house without fear of being killed. They are not even secure in mosques. They are not even safe even inside their homes. How Will this HOME MINISTER provide Guarantees to Bangladesh team. I advise Bangladesh not to send anybody. There is huge risk for their team in Pakistan. why do they want to get their team killed
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