The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has responded to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) over its request for a security advisor for the Pakistan tour. The governing body stated that if the Bangladesh team wants to bring its security personnel, it can do so as it is their decision.
Bangladesh national cricket team is all set to tour Pakistan for the two-match Test series later this month. The Test series will begin on August 21 at the Rawalpindi Stadium followed by the second match to be played in Karachi from August 30. Both matches will be part of the ICC Test Championship.
However, before the tour, the country’s Cricket Board requested the Bangladesh government to provide them with a security advisor. This is because there has always been a security threat in Pakistan due to political tensions, especially after the attack on the Sri Lankan team a long time ago.
Although all the players of the Bangladesh cricket team have agreed to go to Pakistan, the country’s governing board stated that they are concerned about the safety of the team and after Pakistan’s assurance, they have fixed the tour.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board also stated that they want a security consultant to be with them so that the staff maintains communication with them at all times regarding security issues and the players can concentrate on cricket without any external tensions.
In response to BCB’s request for a security adviser, a Pakistan Cricket Board spokesperson said security managers are part of the team’s support staff and if Bangladesh wants to hire them, they can do so. He said:
“Security managers or consultants are now considered part of the player support staff, just like a media manager or team doctor. Even in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and other bilateral series, teams have travelled with security managers.
“If the Bangladesh Cricket Board wants to include a security consultant as part of its team management for the upcoming Test tour, then that is their prerogative.”
PCB shares security plan along with MoU with BCB last month – PCB Spokesperson
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) spokesperson also stated that the Bangladesh Cricket Board has not raised any security concerns. He revealed that they have shared all security plans with the opposition and they have not raised any questions so far. He added:
“But so far, the BCB has not expressed any security concerns to the PCB. In fact, and as part of international norms, the PCB shared the security plan along with the MoU with the BCB last month and did not receive any further queries or requests,” he concluded.
A PCB spokesperson said: “Security managers or consultants are now considered part of the player support staff, just like a media manager or team doctor. Even in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and other bilateral series, teams have travelled with security managers.
“If he…– Qadir Khawaja (@iamqadirkhawaja) August 1, 2024
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