BCB is worried home series may go backseat
Jul 4, 2016 at 7:33 PM
The Bangladesh Cricket Association (BCB) official has criticized the Cricket Australia (CA) as they refused to visit Bangladesh in 2015. BCB said Australia gave “excuse” to of security reasons so that they can avoid the Bangladesh tour.
Currently England’s visit to Bangladesh in under cloud after the recent Gulshan attack by ISIS terrorists. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has discussed the series and expressed concern.
BCB is worried that if England doesn’t come then other teams too will boycott them. England’s scheduled visit is supposed to start from September 30.
After the attack, the British embassy in Dhaka has asked all the British citizen to “remain vigilant” and “specifically advise against visiting areas where foreign nationals are known to congregate such as public areas of international hotels, large supermarkets, restaurants, and clubs”.
Now the England tour depends on how the England security director will dictate the ECB about the tour.
In the last, October Australia were forced to cut their scheduled tour as their security agency cited a threat about a possible attack in Bangladesh on foreigners.
Now the BCB director Sheikh Sohel fears that like Australia, England may also do the same this year.
“We stand by our decision to postpone tours to Bangladesh due to serious concerns about the safety and security of the Australian team and officials. We really feel for the Bangladeshi people and we hope that we can get back to Bangladesh soon,” a CA spokesperson said.
“We will continue to monitor advice from ASIO, DFAT, and our own security advisors about the security risk for any future tours of the Australian team in Bangladesh and make a decision based on this advice closer to any potential tour.”
Later BCB president Nazmul Hassan said the security situation in Bangladesh will improve by the time England visit Bangladesh in September.
Hassan brought the example of Euro 2016 in France being held six months after the terrorist attack in Paris. “It is a very unfortunate incident for Bangladesh,” Hassan said.
“You would have noticed that after the Paris attacks, the game didn’t stop. The sport will go at its pace. England are coming after three months by which time the situation in Bangladesh will get better,” Hassan said.
“It is hard to say which place is safe now. Safety can be an issue in England after three months. We will strengthen our security. If we can ensure that, cricket should not have a problem.”