Two pitch invaders in the space of three days at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium has raised concerns of severe security breach.
The first occasion occurred on day one of the first Test match between host Bangladesh and Zimbabwe when a child ran into the middle of the pitch and grabbed Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim.
The person being under age was let go and the concerned BCB officials had beefed up the security.
But to everyone’s surprise a similar incident was witnessed on day three, Monday, when a young man ran to the middle while Bangladesh were celebrating the fall of the fifth Zimbabwe wicket, that of Peter Moor, in the second innings, and yet again, it was a Mushfiq fan.
An invader makes his way to the centre of the wicket Dhaka Tribune/Md Manik
“We are looking to beef up the security. We have to be more active to make sure everything is going as per direction. It was known that the man was handed over to the police,” said BCB chief security manager Hossain Imam to the media Monday.
The BCB official however, claimed the duty to look into the security on the field and the galleries lies with the on duty law enforcement agencies.
According to Imam, the duty of the 20 BCB security personnel is to observe if all arrangements are in place.
“We have 20 BCB security personnel on duty at Sylhet Stadium and their main duty is to observe if all arrangements are in place. The security of the galleries and the field lies with the law enforcement agencies. I believe they need to be more careful with their duty,” said Imam.
The pitch invader is being taken off the field Dhaka Tribune/Md Manik
Imam informed that the pitch invader was handed over to the police after he had managed to flee into the ground by getting over the fence from the eastern side of the venue.
The SICS is hosting its maiden Test.
The match referee, Ranjan Madugalle, is said to have shown very little concern over the matter and instructed the security to be more alert.
But there is no doubt the incidents are surely to be mentioned in his reports back to the ICC.
