The premier wicketkeeper-batsman for Bangladesh, Mushfiqur Rahim has once again declined to visit Pakistan, to play for the national side, report agencies. Earlier, Nazmul Hasan Papon, the BCB president, stated that Mushfiqur as a contract-bound player has to travel to Pakistan, and that the interests of the country come first before their own.
He made it clear that all the players who are centrally contracted must go and that there is no second way. "We are expecting that he would go. Not only him, but every contracted player should go," he had said. "Players have to think about the country, and not just themselves. This is what I personally feel.
The country comes before everything else. "Everyone should keep it in mind. We will remind them that the contracted players must play as they are told, when selected. It never occurred to me that one has to tell them this, too." The 32-year old Rahim didn’t travel to Pakistan, for the first two legs as he was concerned about his safety while citing his
family had refused him to tour Pakistan. The tourists lost the first two legs comprehensively. They first lost the T20 series by 2-0 and suffered a defeat in the first of the two Tests by an innings and 44 runs.
They are slated to play a One-off ODI on the 3rd of April and the second Test commences on the 5th of April. Mushfiqur Rahim conceded that the Pakistan Super League (PSL) also offered him a contract which he denied by informing the board that he is not travelling to Pakistan.
He further remarked that despite being aware of the present situation, he wouldn’t agree to go there or in the future and wished good luck to the ones who are touring Pakistan. “I have clearly stated my stand regarding going or not going to Pakistan and they [BCB] have accepted it.
There was an offer from PSL and I was asked whether I give my name or not but I did not give for the tournament,” Rahim said as quoted by a Bangladeshi channel. They [board] should have respected me because I did not put my name despite knowing the current situation.
So it is pretty clear [that I will not go] and it will not change in the future and I have all the good wishes for them who travels there,” Rahim added. Rahim pulled out of the previous two legs of the tour, which consisted of three T20Is and a Test, over security concerns.
The BCB had previously assured of respecting the players’ decision whether or not to be a part of the side touring Pakistan but it insisted Rahim to reconsider his decision on the basis of inputs from Mahammudulah and other players who were a part of the previous legs.
The BCB had previously stated that it would respect the players' decision if anyone wanted to opt out of the Pakistan series. Mushfiqur cited family concerns on security related issues to opt out of the tour. Following Bangladesh's T20I series loss and the loss in the first Test, the tone of the BCB president Nazmul Hassan changed significantly.
"Will have to think for the country. Don't always have to think about your own [welfare]. This is what I personally believe. Family is very important, but the country is even more important," he had said. "[His] family member went there and played. So would nothing happen if something happened to [Mahmudllah] Riyad [his brother-in-law]?
Will the family members cry only if something happens to him [Mushfiqur]? I can't believe such things," Hassan had proclaimed.
