Kanpur: The right-wing Hindu Mahasabha has threatened the Bangladesh cricket team, which is currently on a multi-format series tour of India. As a result, security concerns have severely restricted the squad’s movement in Kanpur.
Due to the organisation’s protests against purported acts of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, there would be more protection for the guests.
Following their defeat in the opening Test in Chennai, the Bangladeshi players had an unfettered stay in Chennai, visiting malls and enjoying unrestricted mobility. However, their experiences in Kanpur have been very different. The security situation has severely limited the team’s movement; players are urged to stay in groups and not leave their accommodation unless absolutely essential.
In order to protect them, they have also been told not to order meals from outside sources, and their hotel has a large police presence.
“Our movement is totally restricted. We are not allowed to move out of the hotel, and if we want to, we will have to get clearance from the local police and liaison officer. Police security in hotels is also very tight. If we have to go to the gym or for lunch, we have to tell the security staff, and after they clear things, then only we can move to that place,” a BCB official told IANS on the condition of anonymity.
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When asked whether Chennai’s situation was the same, the official said, “Unlike in Chennai, the situation here is very different. We went to beaches and hotels and ate local food, but here we are packed in a hotel,” he added.
Adding to the difficulties, rain has confined the team to their hotel rooms, as inclement weather has cancelled play on both Saturday and Sunday. The third day of the second Test at Green Park Stadium was called off due to a wet outfield, further contributing to the Bangladesh team’s frustrating stay.
Kanpur police, in coordination with the BCCI, have enforced strict security measures for both teams, restricting movement outside the hotel except on match days. “Players can move freely in the hotel lobby, but they aren’t allowed to go outside, except on the match day,” said a UP police official.
Any outdoor excursions by the players must be pre-approved, with police ensuring their safety during such movements.
The heightened security in Kanpur is not the only instance the Bangladesh team has faced during this tour. Similar protocols are expected for their visit to Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, where the first of three T20Is is scheduled for October 6. The Hindu Mahasabha has already called for a bandh in Gwalior on the day of the match, prompting authorities to prepare for potential protests.
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–IANS
Photo: IANS/Biplab Banerjee
