Sri Lanka’s Test and limited-overs tour of Bangladesh is set to take place as scheduled despite concerns over security, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed on Thursday (January 9).
Sri Lanka were scheduled to play two Tests, three One-Day Internationals and two Twenty20 Internationals as part of the tour, beginning with the first Test in Mirpur on January 27.Given the political instability in Bangladesh, and the resultant security limitations, there was doubt as to whether the series would go on as per schedule.
However, Nazmul Hassan, the president of the BCB, was told by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) officials that the tour would go ahead, during a meeting between the full members of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in Dubai on Thursday.
“The SLC representatives have confirmed here today that the Sri Lanka team will tour Bangladesh as planned,” said Hassan. “The standard security inspections and monitoring in regards to arrangements will continue side by side.
In further good news for Bangladesh, it was also confirmed that Pakistan would take part in the Asia Cup – a tournament which was cleared to be staged in Bangladesh following similar debates over security last week – in February and March 2014.
“We have also received a positive response from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) regarding Pakistan’s participation in the Asia Cup,” said Hassan. “The PCB has requested enhanced security measures for the cricket team during the Asia Cup and we have given our assurance of providing the same.”
Nizam Uddin Chowdhury, the acting BCB chief executive, said as much and added that: “The PCB has also confirmed sending their representative for the security briefing scheduled in Dhaka on 20 January 2014.”
Najam Sethi, PCB’s interim chairman, said BCB had accepted the request for additional security. “BCB has given a formal statement saying the Pakistan team will be provided whatever additional or special security it asked for over and above those for other teams,” Sethi told AFP. “We are sending our top security official to Bangladesh to attend an ICC security meeting in January and to review security plan.” – Wisden India via Google
