Mushfiqur not going to Pakistan at all
Mushfiqur Rahim said that he will not be touring Pakistan and it was because of his family being concerned about the security situation there.
Bangladesh Cricket team are set to tour Pakistan thrice in the coming months and the first time will be later on this January as the Tigers will travel to Karachi to play three T20Is.
Since the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in 2009, cricketing action has been sparse in Pakistan. But in recent years, teams like Zimbabwe, Windies and most importantly, Sri Lanka toured the country and Bangladesh is next in line.
A lot of talks were going on regarding the Pakistan tour as Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Nazmul Hassan had said that national team veteran Mushfiqur Rahim was reluctant to tour Pakistan and on Friday, BCB Chief Selector Minhazul Abedin also told to news agency AFP that Mushfiq had indeed withdrawn himself from the Pakistan tour.
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In the press conference following Khula Tigers' defeat in the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) T20 2019-20, their skipper Mushfiqur Rahim said that he will not be touring Pakistan and it was because of his family being concerned about the security situation there.
"My decision is unchanged. I have said earlier that I will not go because of my personal reasons as my family is concerned about the security in Pakistan. I requested the board and they agreed to it. I have also given them an official letter that I am not going to Pakistan," the 32-year old said.
He further added, "There is no other reason behind my decision. I have said that it is because of my personal reasons, my family is worried about me going there (to Pakistan). I can not go there in such a mental state and play."
Mushfiq was asked if he was not going for the T20s or he was not going at all and the former Bangladesh skipper answered it straight that he was not going at all.
Many Bangladeshi players have signed up for the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) which is supposed to be played in Pakistan. Mushfiq added that he had said no to any PSL offers because he felt that cricket is not more valuable than life.
"I had the opportunity to play in the PSL. But I said no to them because the whole tournament will be arranged in Pakistan and my family was not permitting me to go there and I can not go there. Cricket is not more valuable than life. I know that Pakistan has been better in the last couple of years but if other teams go there frequently then I will gain some confidence and I want that," Mushfiq added.
He also added it was a matter of grief for him that he was missing a series of Bangladesh and he might go to Pakistan in the future depending on the circumstances.
"I had gone to Pakistan before the incident in 2009. I will miss the batting-friendly wickets there. If every team goes to Pakistan in the coming years and then if I get an opportunity, then why not," the wicketkeeper-batsman said.
