Nazmul Hasan
Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hasan on Saturday expressed his optimism of getting the security clearance from the government very soon for their upcoming series in Pakistan, scheduled in January-February next year.
‘We have applied to the government to know whether we will get the security clearance or not for Pakistan series,’ Nazmul told reporters in Mirpur.
‘Two of our teams visited Pakistan before. One is the women’s team and other is the boy’s team. But we are yet to get the security clearance for the national team. But if you ask me about security, I think it should be the same whether it is the Under-12 or the national team.
‘We are assuming that we will get the security clearance. But we are yet to receive it. When we will receive it in our hand, we can inform about our decision,’ he added.
The BCB had earlier sent their national women’s team and Under-16 team to Pakistan in October-November after a government delegation cleared the tours following a visit to the country for a security assessment.
The BCB is now waiting to hear from the same delegation ahead of the men’s national team’s tour, featuring three Twenty20 internationals and two Tests.
The BCB officials earlier said they need a fresh clearance as the threat level for the women and age-group teams and men’s cricket team is not same.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has already sent a tentative itinerary but the BCB it yet to confirm it. The proposed itinerary includes a day-night pink-ball Test match in Karachi.
Pakistan is confident about hosting the series, especially after hosting Sri Lanka for an ongoing two-Test series.
Nazmul, however, said that they wouldn’t force any cricketer to travel to Pakistan.
‘After security clearance, the players’ opinion will be taken. We want to hear who wants to go or who doesn’t,’ he said.
‘We hope that we can make a final decision within the next four to five days…if any player doesn’t want to go, he will not go there. The board will not put pressure on any player to go to Pakistan,’ he said.
Source: New Age
