News/Article

Bangladesh denies abandoning Pakistan over Trophy

ICC president Ray Mali (right) with officials after unveiling the Champions Trophy in Lahore in June 2008

A top Bangladesh cricket official Tuesday rejected accusations from Pakistan that it failed to offer its support in the row over the rescheduled Champions Trophy.

Bangladesh Cricket Board cricket operations chairman Gazi Ashraf Hossain said his country had always backed Pakistan's hosting of the tournament, which was postponed for a year until next September-October over security fears.

"We have always supported Pakistan on the Champions Trophy," Hossain told AFP.

"There were two teleconferences to decide the fate of the Trophy in July and August and we supported Pakistan despite we being not among the competing teams."

Hossain, who attended the International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting in Dubai where the new dates were announced, was responding to comments from newly appointed Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt.

"It was a big surprise to me when Sri Lanka and Bangladesh didn't speak a word when the issue was discussed during the meeting," Butt told reporters in Pakistan on Monday.

"I was not expecting this from these two countries."

There was no immediate response from Sri Lankan officials.

Bangladesh, ranked ninth in the world, does not currently qualify for the elite eight-nation event which was originally due to be held in Pakistan in September.

Hossain said Bangladesh twice visited Pakistan when other teams refused to play there over security fears. Their coach Jamie Siddons is Australian, while physio Darryn Lifson and fitness trainer Grant Traffort Luden are South African.

"Australia refused to send its team to Pakistan over security fears in March this year but we convinced our support staff which is from Australia and South Africa to tour Pakistan and then sent the team for Asia Cup in June," said Hossain.

Foreign teams have refused to play in Pakistan in the wake of a series of deadly suicide bomb blasts and attacks.

Australia postponed a tour in March and South Africa pulled out of the Champions Trophy a month before its scheduled start, while Australia, England and New Zealand also expressed reluctance over the event.