Security increased for touring Bangladesh cricket team in Christchurch
Photo: Collected
|| Desk Report ||
Bangladesh Under-19 have touched down in Christchurch as New Zealand Cricket confirms increased security for all international touring teams six months on from the mosques attacks.
A 15-strong squad arrived on Tuesday to play five one-day matches against New Zealand Under-19 at Lincoln, south of the city, as both teams prepare for next year's ICC world tournament in South Africa.
It marks the first inbound cricket tour since the third Test against Bangladesh at Hagley Oval was abandoned and the tour cut short on March 15. The Bangladeshi players had a narrow escape, fleeing their bus outside the Al Noor Mosque after a gunman opened fire, killing 51 people.
NZC and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) agreed to cancel the scheduled under-19 series in Bangladesh the following month. The reciprocal tour was rubber stamped in recent weeks after regular discussions between the boards.
"New Zealand gave us a formal guarantee, which we worked out and sent it to our government," BCB chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury told AFP as the under-19 team departed Dhaka.
NZC public affairs manager Richard Boock said security was undoubtedly up a level, as it prepares to host England, India and Australia this season. England arrive later next month and the first Twenty20 international is scheduled for Hagley Oval on November 1.
"It [security] has been strengthened, not for this under-19 tour in isolation but for all inbound tours. David White [NZC chief executive] said after the Christchurch attack that this would change everything, and certainly that's been the experience so far. We're giving this a lot of attention."
NZC was reluctant to go into specifics, other than to say it had engaged private security consultants and providers who were in regular communication with Government, police and local authorities.
"The biggest difference right now is the level of awareness and pre-tour planning that's going in to make sure everything is safe and secure," Boock said.
That included safety assurances for Bangladesh players and management when they visit a mosque. A further briefing on the topic for the tour squad will take place on Thursday, Boock said.
