Bangladesh national team’s fielding coach Richard Halsall on Sunday said he is hopeful that England series will take place despite the security concern.
Halsall, the former Zimbabwean Test cricketer and the former fielding coach of England national cricket team, returned to Dhaka on Sunday to join the national side.He was the latest foreign staff of the national side to return after the terror attack of Gulshan that killed 22 people, mostly foreigners.
‘I am hopeful that the tour will take place,’ Hallsall told to reporters.
‘I think people are bit more honest about threat level and there’s no denial that there’s a threat. But that exists here and everywhere.
‘Being honest about there being a threat is the first step to dealing with it. I think it is safe to be here.
‘I happened to be in London when it was under attack. I was in India when the Taj was attacked. We had only just left the Taj only a week earlier,’ he said referring to terrorist attack in Mumbai hotel in 2008.
‘The world we live in, nowadays, these things do happen. And it is tragic for people involved. So my thoughts are with those people who have been murdered.
‘We just have to be sensible, work with the right people. Be honest about the threat level and work towards a more peaceful environment.’
‘But it is up to them [England team] to decide whether it is safe for the team to come. Obviously it is a different situation for a team.
‘But I really hope that they do come. ‘
He said that England is a committed side and that prompted them to send their side in the under-19 World Cup here on last year. He thought that the situation is even better now because people are more aware of the threat.
‘England are, I think, committed to play cricket all over the world. Their U-19s were here for the World Cup but maybe the security situation in Bangladesh is better now because awareness of the situation is heightened.
Halsall also stated that he always intended to come back here and though he thinks there are chances of attacks but he takes them as part of global unrest. He thought proper actions of BCB can ensure the series.
‘The sensible thing to do after the attack was to let everything calm down. We didn’t have any international cricket at the time.
‘Let the BCB take stock of exactly what they should be doing. I think things probably calmed down but it doesn’t mean things aren’t going to happen but that’s the same in England, America, Australia, France, Germany.’
Hallsall also thought although the Bangladesh team is out of the international arena for few months but as the English team is busy with Test cricket, Tigers may take advantage in one-day international series.
‘The English are going to be shattered because they just played seven Tests in three months. Their ODIs are going to be over on September 20.
‘So are they going to be able to bring their best players? They have five Tests against India after they play us. You can pitch it any way you want to but our players are going to be ready for the first ODI.
‘We have to see it as an advantage.’
-With New Age input
