Pakistan promises top security for Bangladesh squad

Pakistan cricket authorities have received assurances from the government that top-level security will be provided to Bangladesh during their April tour of the country. International cricket has been suspended in Pakistan since terrorist attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in March 2009 left eight people dead and wounded seven visiting players and their assistant coach.
It is hoped that a incident free Bangladesh tour will revive international matches in Pakistan. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf said he met interior minister Rehman Malik in Islamabad on Thursday and got assurances of fool-proof security in case Bangladesh team tours. The tourists are likely to play three one-day internationals. "I am sure after a successful tour by the Bangladesh team, we will be able to convince more teams to tour Pakistan and we have got assurances from the interior ministry for stringent security arrangements," Ashraf told reporters.
Ashraf had vowed to bring international teams to Pakistan since becoming the chairman in October last year. Malik, who toured Dhaka last month where he invited the Bangladesh team for a short tour, said the team will be given "box security". "In a box security the visiting team would travel in bullet-proof and bomb-proof vehicles and we have allowed the PCB to arrange two bullet and bomb-proof buses," Malik told reporters in Islamabad on Thursday. Malik said the PCB will also have a security officer appointed to oversee the arrangements for the foreign teams.
"To ensure coordination regarding security, a new post of security manager is being created in the PCB and the official will be responsible to co-ordinate with provincial governments, police officials, PCB and the federal government," said Malik.
Malik said his ministry will make a committee, comprising the interior secretary, FIA director-general and national crises management cell director-general, to finalise the arrangements. Rangers and Frontier Constabulary will provide security cover to the Bangladesh team who are expected to play matches in Lahore and Karachi. Bangladesh last month announced it will send a delegation to oversee security arrangements which will submit a report to the government and only after clearance on security will the tour be possible.