Pakistan disappointed over Bangladesh's appeal against Asia Cup result

Islamabad, March 26 (IANS) The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and senior cricketers expressed their disappointment over Bangladesh's decision to challenge the result of the recently concluded Asia Cup which was won by Pakistan.

Talking to local media Sunday evening, PCB director Intikhab Alam said it was sad that Bangladesh appealed against a fair result.

"It was a fair-played match; BCB's decision to appeal is just an afterthought. No match umpire or referee complained so it has no solid basis but an attempt to create a storm in a cup," Alam was quoted as saying by Xinhua.

Earlier Saturday, an official of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) told media that they would appeal to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) to review the last over of the final match between Pakistan and Bangladesh in which Pakistani bowler Aizaz Cheema allegedly block their batsman Mahmudullah Riyad from taking a second run.

The BCB official claimed that this incident cost them the match and if their player was not stopped they might have won the title.

Pakistan beat Bangladesh in a thrilling final Thursday by two runs to win the four-nation tournament in Mirpur, Bangladesh.

BCB officials hoped that by appealing to the ACC they can get five penalty runs for deliberate obstruction that would help them change the result in their favour.

Chairman of the BCB operations committee Enayet Hossain Siraj was quoted by the local media as saying: "We have seen video footage of the incident repeatedly. It is clear that Cheema blocked Riyad deliberately."

"We will file a written appeal to the ACC very soon and will also give a copy to the International Cricket Council (ICC)," said Siraj.

The development comes at a time when Pakistan is trying to convince Bangladesh to tour their country.

Local former cricketers and experts fear that the appeal against the Asia Cup result might be an excuse for Bangladesh to cancel their planned tour to Pakistan.

Former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali, talking to Xinhua Monday, said: "We should understand it clearly. There was nothing wrong in the match. By saying this, Bangladesh clearly gave us a message to cancel the tour."

Pakistan has been desperately trying to revive international cricket events in the country after the 2009 terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore.