ICC vice-president AHM Mustafa Kamal has denied any "unconditional commitment" from Bangladesh to tour Pakistan, contrary to what the current BCB president, Nazmul Hassan, had stated last month. Kamal, the former BCB president, said he approves the idea of touring Pakistan, but insisted that the final decision on touring rests with the BCB.
"It [unconditional commitment] was not in any ICC meetings' minutes," Kamal told reporters. "I have not missed a single meeting [in my time as BCB president]. Such things cannot be written in minutes of a meeting. I deny it, this cannot have happened.
"There were a lot of discussions in the ICC and those have been mentioned in their minutes. At every instance it was mentioned that if Bangladesh tours Pakistan, the ICC will be involved in some capacity. The assessment of their security team will determine whether they'll send officials or not. We have never said that we will bypass the ICC, which will set a precedent for other countries. It is true that ICC wants Bangladesh to tour Pakistan, otherwise discussions wouldn't be mentioned in its books."
However, Hassan, while announcing Bangladesh's postponement of a proposed Pakistan tour on December 31, had clearly mentioned such a commitment made in the ICC meeting (in April 2012). When the plans for the tour were renewed in early November, Hassan said that the BCB had made a written commitment to tour Pakistan in a letter.
Kamal said he wouldn't distance himself from holding the idea of touring Pakistan, and insists Bangladesh should go to the country. "It was my initiation, and I wouldn't deny it. Bangladesh must go to Pakistan, and I know a lot has been written against me. But it was my work and if I hadn't [done the job], nothing would be written against me."
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo's Bangladesh correspondent
