Bangladesh agree to tour Pakistan

Bangladesh have agreed to tour Pakistan next month for a series of five one-dayers and a Twenty20 international following Australia's decision to postpone their tour of the country over security fears.

"We have accepted Pakistan's proposal to play five one-day matches and a Twenty20 match in Pakistan in April," Gazi Ashaf Hossain, the Bangladesh Cricket Board's chairman of cricket operations committee, told AFP. "We will meet soon to fix the dates and venues of the matches."

Cricket Australia made its decision based on an independent review of the circumstances prevailing in Pakistan. The security situation deteriorated further today when two suicide blasts rocked Lahore, killing at least 20 people. Lahore was among the main venues for Australia's tour, and the latest developments jeopardised any chances of the series going ahead as scheduled.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had already made contingency plans for a possible Australia pull-out, approaching the Indian board for a short tour. However, India backed out, owing to a cramped international schedule, compelling the PCB to look at other options. Bangladesh conclude their home series against South Africa on March 14 and don't have any international commitments till the Asia Cup in June, incidentally in Pakistan.