Visiting South Africa team management is not worried of the threat issued by an anonymous phone call to its left-arm pacer Wayne Parnell as their team manager Mohammed Moosajee told the media yesterday that the call was probably a “prank or a hoax”.
According to media reports, Parnell was apparently told, “In the guise of Muslims, you are actually militants. You have come to Bangladesh to conduct militant activities. Just wait, we will take care of you. Come down to the lobby if you have the guts.”
Parnell reported the threat on Sunday, just hours before the visitors locked horns with hosts Bangladesh in the first Twenty20 international at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. The 25-year-old pacer was preparing to join the team at the lobby to leave for Mirpur when he received the phone call in his hotel room from a landline.
“Yes, the call was put through to Wayne’s room on the day of the T20 but we thought it was probably a prank or a hoax call, we didn’t think too seriously of it,” Moosajee told the media.
The South Africa manager expressed concern with regards to the hotel authority putting direct calls to the player’s room. “Wayne followed the necessary security protocol. He informed our security officer, who then took it up with the BCB (Bangladesh Cricket Board) officials. He (Parnell) didn’t feel threatened at all rather he was more concerned about the calls being put through to his room,” the South Africa official informed.
Meanwhile, BCB security consultant Major (retd.) Hossain Imam said the intelligence agencies including military intelligence DGFI (Directorate General of Forces Intelligence) have been informed. “The call was made at around 10:40am, Security agencies are trying to trace the caller and from where the call was made.”
Parnell, who converted to Islam in January 2011, however, did not make a big issue out of the call and accompanied the team to the ground and played the game in which South Africa won by 52 runs.
