Bangladesh captain Mahmudullah Riyad said they remain upbeat to beat Pakistan in the first T20 International today (Friday) and gain the momentum for the whole series.
Having said that, Mahmudullah insisted right at the moment the security matter, which has been the focal point of the series is not in their mind as they left it out when they boarded the Pakistan-bound flight.
But he revealed that the team are satisfied with the security in the place.
“We have not seen any such thing [security measures like this before] and at the moment we are really enjoying it. From security point of view Pakistan is providing us with the best possible security and we are totally happy with the security measures in place,” Mahmudullah said in pre-match conference in Lahore on Thursday.
“I think probably we left it [concern over security] when we boarded the plane so we left it in Bangladesh. We are just thinking about playing good cricket in Pakistan, it’s good to be back here and we are looking forward to demonstrate good cricket here.”
Bangladesh team reached Pakistan on Wednesday to play three-match Twenty20 International series scheduled to start at the Gaddafi Stadium from January 24 leaving behind all the speculation.
A chartered plane carried the 23-member contingent that included 15 cricketers and eight members of the coaching and support staffs to take part in the three-phase series opener at the Gaddafi Stadium from Friday that will also host the second and third T20Is respectively on Saturday and Monday.
This is Bangladesh’s first tour to Pakistan in 12 years only finalized after wrangling over security concerns, having last played a five-match one-day series and Asia Cup – both in 2008, where international cricket is resuming gradually that was stopped after the terror attack in 2009.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had initially refused to play Tests in Pakistan stating that they were only willing to take part in Twenty20s after government granted permission just for a short [seven-day] tour due to unrest in Middle East.
However it was resolved two days after BCB made announced their stance regarding touring Pakistan after a meeting between Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ehsan Mani and BCB President Nazmul Hassan led to a agreement for a tour in three phases that was mediated by International Cricket Council (ICC) Chairman Shashank Manohar in Dubai.
‘At the moment the issue is to play good cricket here and we are hoping to beat Pakistan here. So that’s what we are thinking,” Mahmudullah concluded.
