DHAKA: Bangladesh cricket coach Stuart Law has expressed fears about the team's scheduled tour to Pakistan, where international cricket has been suspended for three years.
Bangladesh are set to be the first team to visit Pakistan since a militant attack on the Sri Lankan team bus during the Lahore Test in 2009, when eight people died and seven visiting players and an assistant coach were injured.
"It's got to be made sure by the two associating boards that everyone is 100% safe to go," he said in comments reported in Tuesday's Dhaka-based New Age newspaper.
"I cannot speak on behalf of the players. I have spent time with the players and everyone is a bit concerned. Not just Bangladesh, but the other teams as well," he said.
"The first initial response from the players around the world is: 'I don't want to go.'"
Bangladesh will play one 50-over game and a Twenty20 international on April 29 and 30 in Lahore, a move hailed by Pakistani political leaders, players and fans.
But newspapers in Bangladesh criticised Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief Mustafa Kamal for agreeing to the tour.
The New Age daily described the decision as "irresponsible, unprofessional, autocratic and downright selfish".
Law, from Australia, declined to confirm if he would go on the tour, while Bangladesh's cricket authorities said they were seeking clearance from the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Foreign teams shunned Pakistan after the 2009 attacks, forcing them to play their home series on neutral venues, mostly in the United Arab Emirates.
COMMENTS (9)
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@peace for all: @Muhammad:
Why you both are jelouse if Bangladesh wants to play cricket in Pakistan. You Indians are not coming to Paksitan so stay quite. Bangladeshi Cricket is good and won from Indian team in Asian Cup.
@Pungi: death is truth no doubt about it. But if you know that jumping into fire will result in death, will you do that?
@Pungi: As you yourself said, both the WTC and Taj hotel were attacked by none other than the peaceful "muslims".
When a Pakistani coach died during a world cup in West Indies nothing happened but when a terrorist attack happened in Pakistan cricket was banned for almost five years...y people have forgotten that we sacrificed our lives to protect others and still we are the one whom they hate...where on earth one can guarantee that his/her life is 100% safe...death can knock anyone anywhere...If ur end time is written on a particular date u can also die in World trade centre in U.S & Taj hotel in Mumbai...!!
This coach is free to express his views but he is going overboard.
@Nasir .
Its the Wild Wild East!
Stuart Law works for CIA, RAW, MOSSAD, and BCCI !
Forget about him, even I as a Pakistani am worried about Bangladesh team visiting Pakistan. The insult was huge when Sri Lankan cricket team was attacked all because of super incompetence of our security agencies. God save them and us.
Can you blame them? - We have bought this upon ourselves. Pakistan has become the wild west with the mullah replacing the cowboy. Our ministers attend rallies of banned outfits and our lawyers shower murderers with rose petals. Pakistan should be renamed Mullahstan (Zia Ul Haq would have already done this had he not been blown out of the sky)