Ahead of Bangladesh’s tour to Pakistan, pacer Mustafizur Rahman posted a cryptic message on Twitter, asking the fans to remember them ‘in your prayers’.
Bangladesh are to play three T20Is (January 24-27) in Lahore, two Tests in Rawalpindi and Karachi and a one-off ODI, and the team headed to Pakistan on Wednesday. Posting a selfie with his teammates from the airport on Twitter, the 24-year-old captioned, “Heading to Pakistan. Remember us in your prayers.
Heading to Pakistan. Remember us in your prayers. #PAKvBAN pic.twitter.com/7l85XfFUWM
— Mustafizur Rahman (@Mustafiz90) January 22, 2020
Bangladesh were initially reluctant on playing in Pakistan, but the tour was decided after the officials from both the cricket boards met in Dubai.
Senior player like Mushfiqur Rahim pulled out of the tour citing that his family is concerned about security in Pakistan. “My family is concerned with me travelling to Pakistan. Keeping them in a worry I do not have the mentality to go and play in Pakistan,” said Rahim.
“It was a tough decision for me [to opt out of the series]. But one needs to understand the fact that I even decided to not be part of PSL [Pakistan Super League] because that is to be played in Pakistan. My family is not permitting me. Life is never ahead of cricket,” he added.
Following that, five members of Bangladesh’s coaching staff also refused to be a part of the travelling team.
Meanwhile, Pakistan have taken some serious security measures for the tour, with an official from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirming that a Bangladesh National Security Agency would reach Lahore on Wednesday.
Bangladesh’s last tour to Pakistan came way back in the 2008 edition of the Asia Cup, and since then, as many as two tours have been canceled due to security reasons.
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Dibyangshu Sarkar
