The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have agreed for their national team to tour Pakistan in April 2012, so long as they are satisfied by the security inspection they willo conduct next month.
The BCB met with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials in Dhaka on Saturday, during which the PCB endorsed BCB chairman Mustafa Kamal as the next president of the ICC.
The two main outcomes from the meeting are likely to be related - the two boards had discussed the prospect of the BCB putting forward the next candidate for the ICC presidency in return for Bangladesh becoming the first nation to tour Pakistan since the Sri Lankan team was attacked by gunmen back in 2009.
Under the ICC's rotation policy, it is the turn of Bangladesh and Pakistan to put forward the next presidential candidate who, if approved, would take office as vice-president after the ICC's annual conference next year, and then ascend to the presidency in 2014.
The PCB made a security presentation to their BCB counterparts on Saturday, which appeared to go down well.
"My board today agreed to form a security committee to visit Pakistan in January 2012 to review their security measures so as to ensure proper security arrangements are in place prior to arrival of Bangladesh team in Pakistan," Kamal said in a statement.
"My board further agreed that Bangladesh cricket team will visit Pakistan in April 2012 as per ICC's Future Tours Programme. I hope this way, slowly and gradually, international cricket will come back to Pakistan."
Kamal was pleased to strengthen ties with Pakistan - the two sides will enjoy reciprocal tours between "A", Academy and Under-19 teams, and expressed his gratitude for the PCB's nomination.
"It is a matter of pride and a privilege to receive the PCB's support on my nomination. I will try to live up to the expectations of not only the people of Bangladesh but for Pakistan as well, and also the entire cricketing fraternity," he said.
"The support that the PCB has given me demonstrates the close relations that our two boards enjoy, and it is not the first time that the PCB has come forward to support us.
"Who could forget that it was Pakistan that proposed Bangladesh's entry into Test cricket? We are indebted to them. Pakistani players have played in Bangladesh and have helped our cricketers a lot. We will also try to support Pakistan in any way we can."
