England appear braced to hear confirmation from captain Eoin Morgan that he has chose to pull out of their one-day worldwide series in Bangladesh.
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But the Irishman’s memories are still vivid of a bomb exploding at a 2010 IPL match in Bangalore, and a violent backdrop to his short stint in the 2013/14 Dhaka Premier Division. Another case was in Bangladesh playing domestic cricket during political elections where things were incredibly violent.
European Central Bank security chief Reg Dickason cleared England to tour after conducting assessments last month but Morgan remains reluctant and the impression is he is unlikely to change his mind.
Moeen Ali, Chris Jordan and Liam Dawson have unequivocally made themselves available, Jonny Bairstow has hinted strongly he will be there too, and coaches Trevor Bayliss and Paul Farbrace have both declared they have no problem travelling.
“I think ultimately, as I’ve said before, as an individual you need to be comfortable within yourself to focus on cricket”.
They are determined to avoid the fate of Pakistan who – apart from a lone series against Zimbabwe – have not hosted any worldwide cricket since gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan team bus during a 2009 Test in Lahore.
“I have been to places before when things have become a distraction and once or twice that has been security”.
Bangladesh issued fresh assurances on Friday (September 9) to England that their visiting cricketers would be accorded top-level security when they come calling later this month.
“Eoin Morgan has no choice but to go to Bangladesh”, Pietersen wrote in a column for The Telegraph.
“Dickason has done his job; it’s time for England’s cricketers to do theirs”.
But his words, in a press conference after England’s season-ending nine-wicket Twenty20 defeat to Pakistan at Old Trafford under his captaincy on Wednesday, speak for themselves.
“When Alastair Cook is willing to lead the Test squad it puts huge pressure on Eoin as captain of the one-day team”.
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury said it was “the prerogative of the European Central Bank who they will send” but made clear he would be disappointed if key players stayed away.
Morgan added: “International cricket, or any cricket for that matter, is not about worrying about different things”.
However, recalling his experience of 2008 when he had to confront similar concerns about whether to tour India after the Mumbai terror attacks took place, he empathised with those who are struggling to reach a decision.
Australia’s senior team also pulled out of a series in October a year ago over safety fears and the BCB has been desperate to ensure that the European Central Bank does not do so as well.
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But Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland indicated that both nations were eyeing an opportunity to reschedule the Test series in July or September 2017, either side of Bangladesh’s scheduled Test and ODI visit to Australia that is likely to be played in the nation’s far-north.
