Video surfaces about Bangladesh team’s entourage of security in Pakistan

The Bangladesh team might have lost the T20I series 2-0 and will play the first Test match on February 7 in Lahore. The 20-over series proved to be a farce for the visiting team given that they were without their experienced players in Shakib-Al-Hasan, who has been banned by the ICC for a year and Mushfiqur Rahim, who refused to travel owing to his family is concerned for his safety.

The Pakistan cricket board (PCB) had promised presidential-level security to all the teams visiting their country as they looked to bring back international cricket back home. First to visit was Sri Lanka for a T20I series, who came without their major players. But satisfied with the measures put up by Pakistan, Sri Lanka sent a full-strength side for the two-match Test series which was played under the annals of the ICC World Test Championship.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board had also sent their officials to check for the security beforehand and despite their players’ concern for safety and after haggling for the series to be played at a neutral venue, Ehsan Mani, PCB chief managed to assure his BCB counterpart to send the team for the T20I series, providing round the clock state-level security.

Video shows the Bangladesh team bus surrounded by security details

A video is doing rounds on YouTube showing the level of security being provided to the visiting Bangladeshi team with 3-4 vehicles leading the bus and a similar number of vehicles trailing the bus from behind. Such security details are reserved for the head of states and Pakistan seemed to show the world they will leave no stone unturned in order to provide a safe haven for visiting teams.

Bangladesh will return to the Pakistani land for the first test at Rawalpindi from Feb 7-11. After a break of almost two months, Bangladesh will play an ODI and the second Test at Karachi on April 3-9, after the end of the upcoming edition of Pakistan Super League (PSL).

The team arrived in Pakistan amidst tight security details and had 10,000 policemen and para-military personnel guarding the team from the hotel to the Gaddafi stadium for the three matches and practice sessions.

Bangladesh captain Mahmudullah had praised the security. “From a security point of view, Pakistan is providing us with the best possible security and we are totally happy with the security measures in place,” he was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

Here is the video: