Bangladesh cancel Pakistan tour

Bangladesh have called off their January tour of Pakistan because of security worries.

The Tigers were set to be the first international side to tour the country since armed militants attacked the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore in 2009.

"Bangladesh will not visit Pakistan for now," confirmed Bangladesh Cricket board president Nazmul Hasan.

The Pakistan Cricket Board said it was "inappropriate" security concerns had been used as the main reason.

The PCB added it was yet to receive official confirmation from Bangladesh that the proposed tour has been cancelled.

"A lot of cricket-related activity has recently taken place in Pakistan successfully without any security issue whatsoever," a PCB spokesman said.

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“We believe that the security of players and officials are the most important thing”

Nazmul Hasan Bangladesh Cricket board president "[That] in itself reflects that the atmosphere in Pakistan is congenial for any international team visit to the country."

However, BCB president Nazmul argued the security situation in Pakistan had "deteriorated" recently.

"In this circumstance, we think it will not be very wise to tour," he said. "We have conveyed our decision to Pakistan already. We are observing the situation. If the situation improves we will keep our commitment."

Nazmul said it had been a very difficult decision for his board to make.

"We have made a commitment to travel to Pakistan. It was even in the minutes of an ICC meeting that we will go," he said.

"So it was almost mandatory for us. But we believe that the security of players and officials are the most important thing."

Bangladesh had also agreed to send a team to Pakistan in April 2012 to play a Twenty20 match and one-day international in Lahore.

However, the Dhaka High Court issued a restraining order stopping Bangladesh from playing in Pakistan due to security concerns.

The BCB president added that the team were ready to face possible repercussions from Pakistan, who are determined to bring international cricket back to the country.

"We are aware that Pakistan will not be happy with our decision. They might not send players to our domestic cricket and they might not co-operate with us in many other fields. We have to accept it," he said.

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Kallis hits 13,000 Test runs mark

Veteran South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis has become the fourth batsman to pass 13,000 Test runs.

The 37-year-old reached the mark with a four through third man off seamer Doug Bracewell after tea in the first Test against New Zealand at Cape Town.

He joins India's Sachin Tendulkar and Raul Dravid, and ex-Australia captain Ricky Ponting in passing the figure.

"I'm probably batting as well as I've ever batted in my career," said Kallis, who was later out for 60.

Age: 37 Debut: v England at Durban, December 1995 Tests: 159 Hundreds: 44 Fifties: 57 Average: 56.94 Highest score: 224 v Sri Lanka, Cape Town, January 2012

*statistics correct on 2 January

"Hopefully I can carry on with that form for a little while longer."

Kallis achieved the milestone having played the fewest Tests of the four (159).

However, Tendulkar, who tops the standings with 15,645 runs, managed to reach the 13,000 mark in fewer innings (266 to Kallis's 269).

Cape Town-born Kallis, who celebrated the milestone on his home ground at Newlands, has also taken 282 Test wickets in a 17-year Test career.

Having needed to score 20 to reach the 13,000 figure, he completed his 57th Test fifty in 68 balls, before departing for 60 when he edged seamer Trent Boult to keeper BJ Watling.

"I love playing at Newlands so it was nice that I could get that achievement here," said Kallis.

"The public have been fantastic to me. To get an ovation like that certainly means a lot to me, and these are very special moments that will live with me forever."

Kallis, now on 13,040 runs, may struggle to overtake Tendulkar at the top of the list but, with no thoughts of retiring from Tests, should pass the retired Ponting (13,378) and Dravid (13,288).

"When I feel that I'm not contributing to the team in the way that I think I should be, or holding some youngster up, then I'll definitely start thinking about it (retirement)," he added.

"But that's certainly the furthest thing from my mind at the moment."

Earlier in the day, New Zealand were bowled out for 45 - their third lowest all-time Test score - in only 68 balls, while the Proteas finished day one on 252-3, with Alviro Petersen 103 not out.

Highest run-scorers in Test cricket:

15,645 - Sachin Tendulkar, India (194 Tests) - average 54.32

13,378 - Ricky Ponting, Australia (168) - average 51.85

13,288 - Rahul Dravid, India (164) - average 52.31

13,040 - Jacques Kallis, South Africa (159) - average 56.94

11,953 - Brian Lara, West Indies (131) - average 52.88

11,174 - Allan Border, Australia (156) - average 50.56

10,927 - Steve Waugh, Australia (168) - average 51.06

10,696 - Shivnarine Chanderpaul, West Indies (146) - average 51.67

10,674 - Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka (137)- average 49.41

10,122 - Sunil Gavaskar, India (125) - average 51.12

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VIDEO: Greenway: England full of confidence

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VIDEO: England should be proud - Flower

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VIDEO: Root exalts patience and simplicity

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