Bangladesh halt tours by foreign teams

The Bangladesh government has halted all visits by foreign teams because it can't guarantee them sufficient security. This means the forthcoming visit of Pakistan has now been postponed indefinitely.

Pakistan were originally scheduled to play two Twenty20 matches and five one-day internationals from March 10-22. However, Bangladesh's security situation has worsened following the shootings at a military base in Dhaka last month.

"Our national security is not yet full-proof," Ahad Ali Sarker, the Bangladesh sports minister, said. "In these circumstances, it is not possible to invite any foreign team. That's why the tour of Pakistan team has been suspended for now."

A Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) spokesman told AFP that the tour had not been cancelled but no new dates had been set. Jalal Yunus, the head of the BCB's media and communications committee, said the series could take place in November.

"We hope that after consultation with the Pakistan cricket officials we can find a time slot, maybe in November this year, for the series to come about."

Salim Altaf, the PCB's chief operating officer, said he was still waiting for an official acknowledgement from the Bangladesh board. "I can't say anything at the moment and will wait for the official letter from the BCB," he said.

More than 70 people died when rank-and-file border guards turned on their superiors, killing at least 56 senior army officers, during a 33-hour bloody revolt in Dhaka on February 25 and 26. The events threatened the future of Bangladesh's recently elected civilian government and exposed deep tensions between it and the military.

The security situation in Bangladesh is also being closely monitored ahead of the 2011 World Cup. It is currently a joint host along with India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The opening ceremony is due to take place in Dhaka.