Trip to Bangladesh no concern for Cobb
T20 TRAVELLER Josh Cobb insists he has had no second thoughts about playing in the Bangladesh Premier League next month – and has even helped Northants teammate Richard Gleeson secure a contract.
One-day captain Eoin Morgan and Alex Hales opted against joining England in Bangladesh due to security concerns in the wake of the terror attack in capital city Dhaka back in July.
And PCA chief executive David Leatherdale has since advised the seven county players expected to fly out for the T20 tournament to stay at home as it ‘remains unclear whether a similar level of security will be provided’ compared to the international series.
But all-rounder Cobb – who will be making the trip to Bangladesh for the fourth time – insists he has never felt threatened and has no reason to think otherwise this time around.
“I know what I’m heading into, there were security concerns last year as well and a few of us went out there and it proved to be fine,” he said.“I know first-hand that they have very good security. No one knows where or when things will happen but in the few years I’ve been there I’ve had no problems whatsoever.
“It’s in the back of your mind, but you don’t want that to stop you going places.They usually put two or three sides up in the same hotel in Dhaka, it’s very well-guarded.There’s actually every chance Richard and I will end up in the same hotel.”
Cobb will be under the spotlight in Bangladesh after starring with a superb 80 from 48 balls to clinch the T20 Blast for Northants at the expense of Durham in August.
Fast bowler Gleeson, however, was cruelly denied an appearance at Edgbaston due to injury – it would have capped a remarkable rise for the 28-year-old, who only last year was playing for Unicorns County side Cumberland.
Cobb has since secured Gleeson a contract in Bangladesh, though after the seamer took 14 wickets with an economy rate at under six in this year’s Blast, his teammate admits it was an easy sell.
“I know a few people out there and one of them was looking for a bowler who was relatively cheap,” said Cobb, who will be playing for Barisal Bulls while Gleeson is contracted to Rangpur Riders.“They had a few ex-internationals willing to go but for a lot of money, so I mentioned Richard Gleeson and though they had never seen him saw that his stats looked great.
“It’s a great opportunity for him, he’s not had a full season with Northants as a professional let alone do anything like this.”
Cobb is also hoping to join the Dubaibased Pakistan Super League in February after undergoing minor surgery for a knee injury that had dogged him for much of the summer.
“I woke up the next day after playing a T20 game in June and struggled to walk downstairs,” he explained.“It was either have the keyhole surgery there and come back for the last four games of the County Championship, which is not my strongest format anyway, or manage it through white-ball cricket.
“It did feel like a lot of us were dropping like flies at one point, and I think that’s what made winning Finals Day even more special.”