The same applies for us: Mash

If there is one personality who provides leadership and food for thought in Bangladesh's cricket community, he is limited-overs skipper Mashrafe Bin Mortaza. In a year when the Tigers have played only T20I cricket, and that too up until late March, England's scheduled visit for a Test and ODI tour in October has assumed special importance to cricket lovers.

With the July 1 terrorist attack on Gulshan's Holey Artisan Bakery casting doubts over the tour, the England team are going to be briefed today about the security situation by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) security team that departed Dhaka last Saturday.

Mashrafe, speaking to reporters in Mirpur yesterday, said perhaps the most moving words on the topic when asked about UK newspaper The Telegraph's report on Monday suggesting that the security team were concerned about travel safety within the cities of Dhaka and Chittagong.

“I don't know in what context this was talked about but I think that we have the ability to transport the players safely,” Mashrafe said, and added: “We also have families, we are also humans. The travel situation also affects us. I think the BCB can handle this quite well, since this is not a very difficult job.”

For all of the consumers of news in both England and Bangladesh, this sound-bite should provide a jolt. Cricket lovers in Bangladesh are desperate to see some action, but may not necessarily appreciate what their heroes risk. By the same token the England team, Mashrafe's potential opponents but more than that his colleagues in the sport of cricket, will be reminded that they are only being asked to do what their brothers in sport are doing on a daily basis half a world away, and that too with greatly increased security measures.

These words did not seem to be said out of any sort of frustration; on the contrary Mashrafe showered praise on the English for their support in the past.

“England has been with us from day one and I believe they will be with us now as well. They sent their team to the U-19 World Cup [in January 2106]. I am still hopeful that they will continue to stand beside us,” said the ever-popular fast bowler from Narail.

The Under-19 World Cup, which Bangladesh hosted, represents a strong argument for England visiting. The Australian senior team had declined to tour in October last year and that reticence extended to the juniors in the Under-19 World Cup, but England sent their team along with all the other nations and the tournament went off without a hitch.

Eoin Morgan, the England ODI skipper, muddied waters further on Tuesday when he implied that the decision to tour may be left up to individuals.

Asserting that he has full faith in his board, the ECB and their security team, Mashrafe urged his English counterparts to do the same. “As a player, when the cricket board is taking responsibility, you have to keep your faith on them. If the BCB told us to go somewhere, then we definitely would. This whole issue depends on the BCB and ECB. I believe that the players should play and leave the rest to the cricket boards.

“To each and every player I would say, you should come. Once you come here you won't even get the chance to think about anything other than the game. You can play here safely and it will be a very competitive series. And I believe that if we play in this kind of situation, our friendship will get deeper,” was Mashrafe's impassioned plea.

“From what I have heard, our security forces are giving it the highest attention. I have confidence in them since we have hosted many big tournaments in the recent past.”

The tour's fate may well be known by day's end today, and either way the decision will have to be taken in good spirits because questions over safety can never be simple. But Mashrafe in his inimitable way has made the strongest case yet for the tour going ahead.