Bangladesh captain Mashrafee bin Murtaza is confident that the forthcoming home series against England will go ahead as planned despite concern over security in the wake of recent terror attacks.
Bangladesh began their preparation for the October series, which comprises two Test matches and three one-day internationals, through a conditioning camp at Mirpur on Wednesday.
The fate of the series is hanging in the balance after gunmen stormed into a Spanish restaurant in Gulshan on July 1 to kill 22 people, including 17 foreigners and two police officers.
England Cricket Board said they are monitoring the situation of Bangladesh and will send a security delegate sometime in next month before taking any final decision.
English ODI skipper Eoin Morgan already voiced his concern publicly and suggested that if necessary the series could be held in neutral venue, a proposal Bangladesh quickly dismissed.
However, Morgan’s Bangladeshi counterpart Mashrafee remained optimistic about the series considering the image of Bangladesh cricket followers as well as the relationship between the two countries.
‘Cricket is followed by Bangladeshi fans irrespective of whether they are young or old and they know how to respect our opponents,’ Mashrafee told reporters during the lunch break of two-part conditioning camp.
‘We need to have the cricket culture. We hope they [England] will come and we will have a good series. Bangladeshi fans have been waiting for a long time to watch [international] cricket.
‘Everyone loves cricket here and they expect England would come and play with us,’ he said.
Mashrafee recalled that England also came forward during the last Under-19 World Cup, held in Bangladesh, despite Australia’s pull out from the tournament citing safety concerns.
‘England always helped us and they even participated in the Under-19 World Cup even though there was concern with our security,’ said Mashrafee.
‘They will get the required security and we are all hopeful about their arrival.’ he said.
Players got an idea of heightened security at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium when they were thoroughly checked at the main entrance before reporting for the conditioning camp.
Mashrafee said they have no problem being checked at the entrance as this now a routine matter.
‘The security check is same for everyone,’ said the paceman.
‘I don’t think it is creating any problem because it [increased security measures] is done for our betterment.’
Cricketers had to start the preparation camp without their trainer Mario Villavarayan, who preferred to stay in Sri Lanka to settle his family after the Gulshan attack.
‘We are not accustomed to train without Mario. But Ifty [Iftekhar] is there and he is with us for a pretty long time,’ said Mashrafee.
‘Boys understand that what they need to do and they also know they need to do it all by themselves. It’s not that they will be pushed if only Mario is there.
‘If there is a gap of one or one-and-a-half month, we would be unfit. But it is a good opportunity to learn how to take care of ourselves and hold on to the fitness,’ added Mashrafee.
The first two weeks of the camp will focus on the strength and conditioning while Tigers are expected to start the skill camp from the first week of August when all of their foreign coaching staff will arrive from vacation.
Alongside Villavarayan, national team head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe, assistant coach Ruwan Kalpage and fielding coach Richard Halsall are also enjoying their vacation currently.
-With New Age input
