Security for National Cricket team will be given top priority: BCB pres Papon after NZ mass shooting

Dhaka, Mar 15: Following New Zealand mass shooting, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan Papon on Friday stated that the BCB, from now onwards will only send the national team to foreign tours after ensuring adequate security measures.

The comments from the BCB chief came following the horrifying terrorist attack at two mosques in New Zealand’s Christchurch which the touring Bangladesh cricketers escaped narrowly.

Briefing the media over the terrorist attack, Nazmul Hassan Papon first informed that all the players and staff of the Bangladesh national cricket team are safe and sound and are staying at the team hotel.

All members of the team are safely at the team hotel. When I heard the news, I talked to Pilot Khaled Masud, then Tamim, Riyad and Mushfiqur one by one. They are all at the hotel and are safe, said Papon while talking to reporters in Gulshan on Friday.

Stating that the BCB, like all other countries, consider New Zealand to be a safe country, Papon said, We don’t demand too much in regards to security for our overseas tours; no one actually does when they play in countries like New Zealand.

The BCB chief then went on to say that he felt maybe New Zealand was not equipped to handle the emergency that dawned upon the police. I don’t think they had any idea that something like this could happen there. For example preparation and everything, the amount of time it needed for the police to get there is not normal.

The incident that left several injured and many dead, means that the BCB will be more aware of security measures for overseas tours.

'I think maybe they were caught unaware by the scenario and will be more alert from now on.What the other countries will do in this scenario is uncertain. What is certain after this incident is that we will ensure our minimum required security ourselves. We will only tour those countries which can provide that security or else we will not be able to visit', he added. (UNI)