Bangladesh’s Mushfiqur Rahim said that he will not change his stance regarding visiting Pakistan for the national team’s final leg of the three-phase visit despite Bangladesh Cricket Board recently asking him to reconsider his decision. The last phase involves a one-off ODI on April 3 and the second Test of the series, from April 5.
Rahim opted out from the opening two legs, which included three T20Is and one Test in late January and early February, due to safety concerns.
BCB stated earlier that they would respect the players’ decision, should they opt out of the touring party but suggested him to revisit his decision after seeking advice from Mahmudullah and other team-mates, who toured on two occasions to take part in the first two phases of the tour.
“I have clearly stated my stand regarding going or not going to Pakistan and they [BCB] have accepted it. There was an offer from PSL and I was asked whether I give my name or not but I did not give for the tournament,” Mushfiqur was quoted as saying to NTV on Thursday.
“They [board] should have respected me because I did not put my name despite knowing the current situation. So it is pretty clear [that I will not go] and it will not change in the future and I have all the good wishes for them who travels there,” he added.
Earlier the BCB boss had asked Mushfiqur to reconsider his decision on Tuesday as he said: “We are expecting that he would go. Not only him, but every contracted player should go. Players have to think about the country, and not just themselves. This is what I personally feel.”
He had further added, “The country comes before everything else. Everyone should keep it in mind. We will remind them that the contracted players must play as they are told, when selected. It never occurred to me that one has to tell them this, too.”
The lone ODI in the third leg of the Pakistan tour is scheduled for April 3, with the Test beginning on April 5. Bangladesh had suffered a big defeat in the first Test in Rawalpindi, as the Mominul Haque-led side lost the match by an innings and 44 runs.
The Tigers felt the absence of Mushfiqur in the three-match T20I series against Pakistan as well, as they lost the series 2-0 with one game washed out.
