DHAKA (Kashmir English): The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has reaffirmed its position against touring India for the T20 World Cup, citing safety concerns, after the ICC refused their request to move matches out of the country.
The ICC upheld the schedule based on security assessments finding no credible threats, and BCB president Aminul Islam is seeking more time to consult with the Bangladesh government for a final decision on participation.
Bangladesh have refused to play their matches in India and demanded to play their games in Sri Lanka, the co-host of the tournament alongside India.
Bangladesh Cricket Board president
Following the ICC’s rejection of the request, BCB president Aminul Islam said, “They [ICC] said it’s a valid point, and gave me 24 or 48 hours to get back to them. I don’t want to put pressure on the government. We know that India is not secure for us. We remain in the stance that we want to play in Sri Lanka,” he said.
Islam said he would consult the government and convey its feedback to the ICC.
“I am hoping for a miracle from the ICC,” he said, adding that players and the government wanted Bangladesh to play the World Cup.
“But we don’t think India is safe for our players. A government doesn’t only consider the players, but they consider all, when it takes a decision,” the BCB president added.
The international cricket-governing body announced its decision on Bangladesh’s request after a board meeting earlier on Wednesday.
“The decision was taken after considering all security assessments conducted, including independent reviews, all of which indicated there was no threat to Bangladesh players, media persons, officials and fans at any of the tournament venues in India,” the ICC said in its statement.
The ICC maintained that it was “not feasible to make changes” so close to the tournament.
The ICC further stated that changing the schedule at the moment, in the absence of any credible security threat, could set a precedent that would jeopardise the sanctity of future ICC events.
As per the ICC World Cup schedule, Bangladesh are drawn in Group C and scheduled to play their first three group matches in Kolkata — against West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9 and England on February 14 — before concluding their group stage against Nepal in Mumbai on February 17.
