After a splendid ODI series against Pakistan, England looks ahead with a bit of reluctance. The issue surrounds their proposed tour of Bangladesh, which was recently given a green signal by the ECB security team that assessed the plans in Bangladesh. With geopolitical activities and deep fundamentalism adversely affecting Bangladesh, it was perceived that several England players could potentially boycott the tour.
According to Andrew Strauss, the director of England cricket, he would be glad if both the skippers of the English squad’s tour Bangladesh. Alastair Cook, captain of the test squad, recently gave his thumbs up for the tour and could only cancel his visit provided a personal situation as he expects his second child. ODI and T20I skipper Eoin Morgan is expected to give his nod within the next few days.
“Would I like both our captains to be on that tour? Absolutely, definitely,” Strauss said. “The captain has certain roles and responsibilities that are greater than just looking after themselves. He obviously has a duty to the team. But they’re still human beings – and I think that’s an important point to make. They have their own thoughts, concerns, issues and views on life – and we’ve got to understand that. “I can’t force anyone onto that plane. I cannot literally force people up the steps and say ‘you have to go to Bangladesh’. People have their own decisions to make,” the former England opener said.
Strauss once again specified on the point that the report provided by ECB officials was a certainty for the players to tour. “I’m very assured by the report that Reg gave to me and translated to the players. But everyone will look at that and take their own observations,” Strauss said.
“I’m still very hopeful that everyone gets on that plane because I believe the security plan we have in place mitigates the risk to an acceptable level.”I genuinely believe that and that is why I’m encouraging every player to use that incredibly detailed and experienced viewpoint from Reg to make a judgment,” he concluded.