Ramiz Raja slams Bangladesh’s logic, asks ICC to intervene

KARACHI: Former Pakistan cricketer Ramiz Raja has slammed the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for refusing to send their team for the two-match Test series to Pakistan.

Bangladesh were originally scheduled to arrive in Pakistan in January for three T20Is and two Tests and the PCB was hopeful the full tour would go ahead given that Sri Lanka had visited the country for the Test series.

However, The BCB is still adamant on touring Pakistan only for a ‘short’ Twenty20 International (T20I) series due to the recent escalation of tensions in the Middle East.

While speaking in a Youtube video, the famous commentator was baffled by BCB’s rationale behind their aforementioned decision. “I don’t understand how Bangladesh can refuse to play Test match in Karachi and Rawalpindi due to tensions in the Middle East. If that’s the case then situation in all of Asia isn’t great, so cricket shouldn’t happen in Asia at all,” Raja said. “Similarly, there is knife rage on streets in England and bushfires in Australia, so this logic of Bangladesh baffles me as Pakistan government has made it clear that they will remain neutral as far Middle East tensions are concerned.”

The 57-year-old asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) to intervene since they consider Pakistan safe.

“I think ICC should intervene in this matter. They had sent their umpires and match officials to Pakistan which means they consider Pakistan safe,” he said. “Pakistan has assured Bangladesh that they will be provided with presidential level security. Sri Lanka also praised the security provided to them during the recent Test series in Pakistan.”

“Asian bloc needs to step forward and help Pakistan. Ground reality with regards to security situation in Pakistan is completely different as opposed to Bangladesh’s perception. They should have considered ground realities and should have made a better decision,” he added.