CRICKET: Pakistan Cricket Board chief Ijaz Butt has alleged Chris Broad's claims that there had been a change in security arrangements ahead of Tuesday's terrorist attack in Lahore were "fabricated".
Broad, who was acting as the International Cricket Council's (ICC) match referee during the series, was caught in the crossfire of an ambush as the match officials and Sri Lanka players made their way to the Gaddafi Stadium for the third day of the second Test with Pakistan.
The former England batsman said the security offered to the officials was lax - claims supported by match umpires Simon Taufel and Steve Davis today. However, Butt dismissed his points out of hand.
"Match referee Chris Broad's statement is fabricated,” said Butt. "There was no change in the level of security. I will lodge a complaint with the ICC against his (Broad's) statement."
Broad claimed that he had been promised "presidential-style security", but alleged he and the rest of the passengers had been left as "sitting ducks".
The attack left six policemen dead and local umpire Ahsan Raza with a bullet wound to his stomach, while seven Sri Lanka players and assistant coach Paul Farbrace also suffered injuries.
Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was another to question the level of security provided but he too came in for criticism from Butt.
"(Muttiah) Muralitharan's allegations that there weren't any security personnel travelling with the team bus is also untrue," he said. "In fact Muralitharan personally asked me to arrange a meeting with the bus driver and even gave him a shirt.
"This is an unfortunate incident and policemen have lost their lives. There is not one, but two high-powered investigations and I think we should refrain from commenting on the incident until the investigative agencies complete their probe."
Earlier today, the Bangladesh Cricket Board postponed Pakistan's tour of the country, which was due to begin next week.
Pakistan were scheduled to play two Twenty20 matches and five one-day internationals, starting with the first Twenty20 match in Dhaka on March 10.
"We were advised by the home ministry to postpone the tour for the time being," said Mohammad Jalal Yunus, chairman of the BCB's media committee.
"The ICC have also asked us to change a few security plans. We are now working with the PCB and our government agencies on a new itinerary which will be announced soon."
The Pakistan Cricket Board, who announced a 16-man squad for the tour yesterday, still expects to send a team later this month.
"Bangladesh have conveyed their decision to us without giving any reason," PCB chief executive officer Saleem Altaf said.
"We are told they are revising the tour itinerary and the series will be held after some delay."
Pakistan's tour was to end on March 22nd.
Butt reiterated that security was the responsibility of the government and that the PCB had not been involved in detailed planning.
"Security is the responsibility of the government and our involvement is limited," he said. "We have a committee for security and when an international match happens, we have people from our committee interacting with the police and the security agencies.
"We meet with people at the highest level and have a complete discussion and what should be done. Security is a specialised task so we leave it to the security forces.
"This is the practice everywhere in the world and with all the other boards.
"In any case, people who escaped the tragedy without even a scratch should not be pointing fingers at the same security men who died saving them."
Butt agreed that it was unlikely any team would tour Pakistan in the next six months at least, but he was confident of getting Pakistan cricket back on track.
"The situation is certainly grim, but we will tackle that in time. In the next six to seven months there isn't any likelihood of any team coming to Pakistan.