Bangladesh’s dependable middle order batsman Mushfiqur Rahim said that he chose to opt out the Pakistan tour due to the serious concern of his family members about the prevailing security threat there.
I can’t play cricket in Pakistan amid the security threat in Pakistan, the batsman said here on Friday (Jan.17).
In fact my family is worried about the security there. And it’s not possible for me to concentrate on cricket when they will remain concerned about my security.
Mushfiqur Rahim’s comment came after the final of the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL) in which his side Khulna Tigers tasted a 21-run defeat to Rajshahi Royals.
I have already let my decision clear to the BCB. In this regard I had also sent a letter to them that I won’t be the part of the Bangladesh’s tour of Pakistan-not only the T20 series, but also the other format of cricket.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) reached an agreement on scheduling Bangladesh’s Tour of Pakistan recently on last January 14.
The Bangladesh national team is set to leave the country on January 22.
Bangladesh will play a three-match T20 International series in first phase in Lahore from January 24-27.
The Bangladesh Team is then expected to return to Pakistan for the first of the two ICC World Test Championship matches which will be held in Rawalpindi from February 7-11.
Following the conclusion of the first Test, Bangladesh will visit Pakistan again to play a one-off ODI in Karachi on April 3 and the second ICC World Test Championship fixture from April 5-9 at the same venue.
While Bangladesh would visit Pakistan in three phases, Mushfiqur Rahim said, he wouldn’t play any kind of cricket there.
The BCB earlier said they won’t force any cricketer to visit Pakistan.
Apart from Mushfiqur Rahim, no cricketer however is yet to refuse to tour Pakistan. But the foreign coaching staffs, except head coach Russell Domingo had already refused to tour in Pakistan. Domingo said he has no problem to visit Pakistan with the team.