Bangladesh home minister to meet ECB security team

The security team of the England and Wales Cricket Board, which is slated to arrive in Dhaka on 17th August, will meet Bangladesh's home minister Asaduzzaman Khan as a part of the pre-tour inspection which is expected to last for three days.

The ECB security team consisting of security advisor Reg Dickason, PCA chief executive David Leatherdale and ECB director of cricket operations Jon Carr will also meet with local security agencies as well as the United Kingdom and Australian high commissions.

The security delegation visit is a routine procedure carried out before a tour but the significance of this particular visit is due to the terrorist attack in Dhaka in July.

The attack which claimed the lives of 20 people, has clouded England’s tour of Bangladesh and the security delegation will assess if the conditions are safe for the team to carry on with their tour.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) media chairman Jalal Yunus revealed that the board has been in constant communication with the ECB.

Yunus also added that the board will facilitate appointments if ECB’s delegation wants to meet with any other government official.

“We have been in constant communication with the ECB for the past few months,” Yunus said.

“Their meeting with the British and Australian High Commissions, the home minister and the security agencies will be of importance.

“Besides, if they want to meet any other top officials of the government, we will get them the appointment.

“Terrorism is not an issue only in Bangladesh but in many parts of the world like London, Paris or India.

“But that does not mean sports will be stopped or hampered.”

Citing Bangladesh’s record of hosting the ICC Under-19 World Cup this year without any untoward incidents, Yunus is confident that they can provide adequate security to England during their tour.

“We had arranged such a big tournament without any trouble and England sent their team to it.

“I hope they will take note of that.

“If Bangladesh have managed to provide proper security to so many teams during the Under-19 World Cup, they should realise that it should be way easy to take care of a single team.”

Stressing that it is important for Bangladesh to host the England tour successfully, Yunus said that the security measures at the venues will be extremely vigilant.

“We need cooperation from everyone.

“This tour of England has become a national interest now and I will expect everyone to do their respective duty properly.

“The accreditation system for this series will be done very carefully and also the entrance to the stadium will have vigilant monitoring.”

Last week, an England spokesperson confirmed that upon the completion of the security delegation’s inspection, the ECB will discuss the situation with the players.

© Cricket World 2016