Bangladesh women’s captain Salma Khatun expressed her concern over the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s willingness to send the team to tour terror-stricken Pakistan this October.
The women’s team are currently preparing for the home series against South Africa, slated for next month, while the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 qualifiers is also in their schedule later this year. However, in recent times the BCB has said it would send a two-member security team to Pakistan in order to assess the playing conditions and security arrangements before finalising the tour.
“We still do not know whether the tour is going to take place or not and it is too tough to say anything at the moment, but if BCB wants us to visit Pakistan we have to go,” said all-rounder Salma before admitting, “Yes, there are fears and concerns among us.
“There has been turmoil in Pakistan and the recent attack on former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram raised more concerns among us and I hope the BCB will take a decision after taking all of these factors into consideration.”
The Pakistan Cricket Board has been doing their best to try and convince the BCB to send its men’s team for a bilateral tour. Although that wish remains unfulfilled, PCB chairman Shahryar Khan’s visit to the country late last year helped revive the relationship as Pakistan toured Bangladesh in April-May this year.
“The cricketers are not interested in touring Pakistan after knowing about the attacks on the Sri Lankan team (in 2009) and Wasim Akram (recently). If the former captain (Akram) of their country is not safe there, how will we feel safe in Pakistan?” said Panna Ghosh, a senior member of the Bangladesh women’s team.
BCB chief executive officer Nizamuddin Chowdhury, when contacted, said, “PCB proposed the tour as our women’s team have not played outside the country for a long time and they are looking forward to play overseas. We will send a security team to Pakistan to assess the current situation of the country and we do not have much time left in our hands as the tour is likely to take place this October.”
It should be mentioned, a security team from the BCB had earlier visited Pakistan in 2012, but two such proposed tours were called off by Bangladesh owing to security concerns. In response, Pakistan pulled its players out from participating in the Bangladesh Premier League T20 in 2013 and the Dhaka Premier League, making the relation bitter between the two countries.