Barmy Army avoids come to support amid security fears

Reg Dickason, the England Cricket Board's security chief who endorsed the tour after a field trip to Bangladesh, expressed his satisfaction with the safety measures after his team arriving in the South Asian country for 3-week long Test and limited over Series . Extremely tight security measures are being followed and war-like rehearals (in case of emergency) are carried out by Bangladesh sports security because Australia had already pulled out of a planned tour a year ago after their cricket board cited a "risk of terrorism", so this time the Bangladesh Cricket Board is desperate to avoid the fate of Pakistan who -- apart from a lone series against Zimbabwe -- have not hosted any international cricket since gunmen attacked Sri Lanka's team bus during a 2009 Test in Lahore.

However, when Dickason told reporters. "The security overall ... in Bangladesh is outstanding" and "It gives a lot of confidence," it would really impress the Barmy Army, who declined to travel with the English cricket team owing to prevailng security concerns. A few excrepts of their detailed statement on their website reads out as;

"Behind the scenes we have been liaising with the ECB and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and have now received advice from the latter. We have been supplied with a list of hotels in Dhaka and Chittagong that will receive protection from the Bangladesh Police and been told that England supporters will be afforded their own segregated area within the stadium.

"However on the issue of escorts to and from stadiums (where due to local traffic conditions supporters will be most vulnerable to attack), we have been supplied with the contact details of a private security company, the implication being that any extra security will have be at supporter's own expense. Whilst we are grateful that the BCB are taking an interest, we feel these measures do not yet go far enough to persuade us to go against FCO advice.

"It is a matter of great regret that we feel unable to endorse travel to Bangladesh. Those of us lucky enough to have visited this country on previous tours have lasting and fond memories of a warm welcome, friendly locals and wonderful food. Perhaps the greatest pleasure being able to mix freely with the general population, particularly in and around the stadiums. We were also able to wander and explore the teeming cities of Dhaka  and Chittagong without fear. FCO advice specifically warns against such activities."

The concerns over security for England's tour of Bangladesh began after Dhaka, the nation's capital, suffered a terrorist attack in July that left many dead, casting doubt over whether Bangladesh's security forces could guarantee the England team's safety. Besides the Barmy Army, the incident also compelled the English team ODI captain Eoin Morgan and opening batsmen Alex Hales to opt out of the Bangladesh tour.

 However, the way Bangladesh security personnel have demostrated their security capability ahead of Test series, it definatly do away the English cricketers concerns. Their hotels in which English team stays has been given several layers of extra security and  on their way to Fatullah stadium, they are accorded with VVIP security which doesn't allow the fleet of vehicles to stop at any crossing or roundabout in the busy Bangladesh capital. The forces involved in maintaining security in this series include the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, SWAT, Special Branch, Detective Branch, Rapid Action Battalion and the Bomb Disposal Unit.

By M. Wasim

mwasim.370@gmail.com