The Bangladesh National Party said it could not guarantee that the forthcoming international competitions to be hosted by Bangladesh would be out of the purview of any political programmes. BNP sports secretary Lt. Col (retd.) Abdul Latif, also a former manager of the National Cricket Team, paid a visit to the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s headquarters at Mirpur, where he made his party’s position clear.
‘It depends on the January 5 election,’ Latif said when asked by reporters if the Sri Lanka series, the Asia Cup and the ICC World Twenty20 would be out of the purview of any political programme. ‘A farcical election is going to be held. Everything depends on what the people say.’
Latif’s visit came at a time when the BCB was planning to meet the leader of the opposition Khaleda Zia to request her to keep cricket out of politics.
During the New Zealand series, my brother Sujan [acting BCB chief executive officer] requested this to me. I told it to madam [Khaleda Zia] and she readily agreed.
‘But now I want to say something clear-cut, madam has been confined to her house. Close to her house there are offices of the Indian High Commission, Sri Lankan High Commission and Pakistan High Commission.
‘They are seeing it. Their political wings are giving report.
‘This is a democratic country. The programme that the madam has announced is a peaceful programme.
‘I think if the police had not laid siege to Khaleda’s residence and if she is set free, it will bring good for the country, cricket and democracy.
‘The whole world is watching it. After seeing this how can you say the players are secured?
‘Four teams will be coming for the Asia Cup. But for World Twenty20, teams will be coming from the whole world.
‘I would ask the BCB president Nazmul Hasan to tell all the High Commissioners so that they sit with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. In that case hopefully we will be able to host both the Asia Cup and the World Twenty20,’ he said.
-With New Age input
