The Bangladesh Cricket Board on Sunday ruled out the prospect of hosting the England cricket team in October at a neutral venue despite the attacks of suspected militants in recent weeks that rocked the country.
‘We always believe that suspending cricket in a particular country will not bring any solution,’ Bangladesh Cricket Board chief executive officer Nizamuddin Chowdhury told reporters on Sunday.
‘Our all out effort will be fulfilling our commitment of hosting the series here.’
A terror attack at a Spanish cafe in Dhaka left 18 foreigners, two Bangladeshis and two senior police officers dead on July 1.
A week later on July 7 militants attacked police checkpoint near Bangladesh’s largest Eid congregation at Sholakhia in Kishoreganj district, killing two police constables and a woman.
England are scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh on September 30 to play two Tests and three one-day internationals.
England limited-over captain Eion Morgan voiced ‘big concern’ after Gulshan cafe attack, saying neutral venue could be an option for the series.
The BCB chief executive said that a security delegate from England will visit Bangladesh soon to measure the issue.
‘Our cricket operations department is in regular touch with ECB over October tour,’ he said.
‘England security delegate was supposed to visit last month. But they are taking time may be because they will also tour to India after the Bangladesh series.
‘They will perhaps do the security inspection both in India and Bangladesh together,’ said Chowdhury.
Australia pulled out of a tour of Bangladesh last year based on government security advice.
Earlier in the year, Australia also had pulled out of the Under-19 World Cup that was held in Bangladesh for the same reason.
But Bangladesh successfully finished that global tournament before hosting Zimbabwe national side for a bilateral series, both finishing without any mishap.
The West Indies’ Under-19 team also aborted a tour in 2013 following an explosion near their hotel in the southern city of Chittagong.
Chowdhury said that the International Cricket Council is working on updated security protocol to deal with the problems globally.
‘We have to keep one issue in our mind that this is now a global,’ he said.
‘It’s not just a problem of Bangladesh.
‘Many developed countries in the world that have strong security barriers, face some incidents too.
‘Still, whenever we host an international series, we take special security measures.
‘With the help of our security organisations like Bangladesh police, RAB (Rapid Action Battalion), we hosted many major ICC events, despite many challenges.
‘So, we are hopeful any board will consider this. You know during the last Under-19 World Cup we faced some difficulties due to some incidents but we successfully completed the tournament.
‘Despite the challenges, England sent their Under-19 team in Bangladesh.
‘They had all-out cooperation for us and we are hopeful we will also get the same co-operation now.’
In 2008, England returned from India following the terror attacks in Mumbai but went back to the country to play two Test matches in Chennai and Mohali shortly after.
-With New Age input