DHAKA, July 23, 2019 (BSS)- Bangladesh are quite pleased with the high level of security that they have got in the Sri Lanka as they came here to play three-match ODI series as the first foreign team since the Easter bombings.
The future of the series was thrown into doubt following the April 21 Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka churches and hotels that killed more than 250 people.
Due to promises of providing highest level of security to Tigers by Sri Lanka, the series has found steam and finally is rolled out.
As promised, The Bangladesh team is provided with a level of security usually reserved for visiting state dignitaries, with additional deployments at their hotel and armed guards for their motorcade.
“I would like to thank Sri Lanka Cricket, especially for the way they have looked after us till now. I think the security has been fantastic. All the facilities they have given to us have been top notch,” Bangladesh interim captain Tamim Iqbal said on Monday.
“And I really thank the way they have been looking after us. And I think after the incident Sri Lanka went through couple of months ago I thought when we came to know that we will be touring Sri Lanka, from the Cricket Board, from our countrymen, from cricket players, everybody was looking forward to it.”
Tamim said that Sri Lanka was gracious enough to visit Bangladesh despite violence broke out there and their visit is also the part of showing solidarity as he said ‘in cricket we are all like a family.’
“Not very long ago we were in a similar situation. I think Sri Lanka was one team that came forward and helped us to regain our cricket back,” he said.
“And I thought in cricket we are all like a family. So we need to help each other whenever this kind of incident happens. And I think we are feeling very comfortable here. As I told you, there is nothing except cricket that we are thinking. The boys are enjoying in the hotel or if they want to go out. It’s completely safe for us so I can tell you that. So I thank you again and I hope this series will be an interesting one. There are two very good teams and we have a lot to prove.”
“I think Sri Lanka has a lot to prove and same for us, we have a lot to prove too. So I am hoping for a great series and I hope everybody enjoys even the crowd and everyone. So thank you, I look forward to it.” Interim head coach Khaled Mahmud Sujon said no players showed an reluctance to tour in Sri Lanka in the wake of the terrorist attack.
He said all of the players were positive for the tour and subsequently found the security arrangement at top notch.
“I think everybody was really positive. They were looking forward to come to Sri Lanka,” Mahmud said.
“As I told you, not many years ago we were in a similar situation and Sri Lanka was probably the team they came to us and we played a beautiful series there. I think anybody of our team hasn’t thought of not coming to Sri Lanka. Everyone was looking forward to it. Sri Lanka has been always a beautiful country to play cricket. As I said that we have been looking after very well security wise and facility wise. There is nothing except cricket we are thinking at the moment.”