'We are not scared'
Bangladesh women's cricket team captain Salma Khatun and coach Janak Gamage brushed aside the security concerns related to their tour of Pakistan.
After weeks of deliberation, the Bangladesh Cricket Board, a day before Eid, finalised its decision to send the team to Pakistan to play two T20Is and two ODIs in Karachi. The team will leave here this afternoon.
“We were not pressurised by the board to go on this tour. I personally feel that the BCB has managed a secured arrangement for this tour. We are going there to play cricket and that's all that we be concentrating on. Our focus will be on the games,” Salma told reporters in Mirpur yesterday.
The skipper further stated that the players in the team were given a choice with regards to the tour.
“The BCB did ask us if we wanted to go to Pakistan, and we decided to go. We haven't played any match after the last Asian Games [in 2014] and we want to get ready for the World Cup. We just want to tour... it doesn't matter which country we got to,” said Salma.
“I don't think it's risky. These kinds of issues are taking place everywhere, not just Pakistan. We are not scared because the place [Southend Club Cricket Stadium] where we will be playing is located far away from the danger area. There is no tension,” she added.
When asked as to how the players' families have reacted to the tour, Salma said, “Initially most of them were a little scared. But once we talked to them, it all became okay.
“At the end of the day, we will be concerned about what we do on the field. Once we enter that field, we will forget about everything else,” she added.
Coach Gamage echoed Salma's sentiment and believed that situation in Pakistan at the moment is a lot better than it was before.
“I am not concerned about what will happen outside the field. That [the terrorist attack on Sri Lankan players in 2009] took place a long time ago. I think the situation is different right now,” said Gamage.
“I have seen the security plan for us and I don't think any other cricket team has received such kind of security,” he added.
The status of security for the visitors has been notched up to the 'VVIP' level, which, according to the team manager, is equivalent to the arrangement made for presidents and prime-ministers of different nations.
The series will begin on September 30 and will end on October 6. The team is scheduled to return home on October 7.
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