Internationals close to Pakistan return

International cricket is poised to return to Pakistan after the International Cricket Council revealed agreement has been reached for Bangladesh to contest two matches there later this month.

No full-member international side has toured Pakistan since a terrorist attack on a Sri Lanka team bus in March 2009 that left six police officers and a driver dead and several players and officials injured.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have agreed a two-match itinerary, and tabled their proposal to the ICC's executive board, which is currently meeting in Dubai.

The ICC have requested the PCB provide them with details of their security arrangements for the proposed one-day match on April 29 and Twenty20 encounter on April 30, both of which will be held at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium.

"The ICC Board were informed that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have agreed the Bangladesh tour of Pakistan will take place and will involve one One-Day International and one Twenty20 International to be held in Lahore," read an ICC statement.

"The ICC Board, having due regard to its duty of care to match officials and other ICC staff, requested that the PCB to immediately provide a comprehensive security plan for consideration.

"Thereafter, the ICC's Anti Corruption and Security Unit will commission a localised risk assessment to determine whether its officials and staff are appropriately protected by the proposed security plan, before any further decision is taken in relation to their appointment."

BCB president Mustafa Kamal, who recently assessed the security situation in Lahore, hailed the agreement between his board and the PCB as a significant moment for the people of Pakistan.

"The public of Pakistan have been deprived of cricket and we felt that we needed to support them," he said. "The reception we received when we toured Lahore and Karachi on our security visit was overwhelming."

PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf, who first approached Bangladesh about a possible tour last year and has previously spoken of his belief international cricket will return to the country in 2012, added: "I want to thank the BCB and the Bangladesh government for their support for this tour."