“Terrorist threats cannot control our cricket”

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan has made it clear that the cricketing community should not give in to terrorist threats.

Hassan’s comments come after Australia cancelled their two-Test tour of Bangladesh due to security concerns.

“Bangladesh is at No. 23 in the terror index published recently,” Hassan told reporters. “There are other countries on that list. But does it mean countries like India and Sri Lanka won’t be hosting cricket? Won’t there be any international cricket? My main point is that these terrorist threats cannot control our cricket. We have to decide and the ICC has to intervene to see what type of security plan will help everyone play cricket.”

Hassan believes Australia’s decision to cancel the tour was influenced by the killing of an Italian national in Dhaka’s diplomatic zone. He added that Bangladesh fans were extremely disappointed not to be seeing Australia take on Bangladesh for the first time since 2006.

“As far as I know CA has still kept the dialogue open,” he said. “They wrote in their press release that they didn’t get clearance from their government.

“There is no doubt that we have been hurt. The country of 160 million people was eagerly awaiting the Tests against Australia. The fans have been deprived and everyone feels let down.”