ICC Team to Address Bangladesh's T20 World Cup Security Concerns

ICC's Visit to Resolve Security Issues

A two-member delegation from the ICC is set to arrive in Dhaka on Saturday to address the ongoing concerns regarding Bangladesh's participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup in India. Their goal is to alleviate security worries, especially since relocating the matches has been deemed impractical.

Bangladesh has requested the ICC to move its World Cup fixtures, which are slated for Kolkata and Mumbai, citing potential security threats to its players.

This demand from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) arose after pacer Mustafizur Rahman was unexpectedly removed from his IPL contract with the Kolkata Knight Riders due to a directive from the BCCI.

A source familiar with the situation confirmed, "Yes, the ICC officials are indeed visiting Dhaka. Discussions are currently underway, and all possible solutions will be explored. We anticipate participation from Bangladesh government officials in these talks."

The BCB has previously communicated its concerns to the ICC during a recent video conference, particularly regarding the safety of playing in Mumbai.

Bangladesh is set to compete against Nepal in their final Group C match at the Wankhede Stadium on February 17.

However, the board has expressed that comments made by certain Indian politicians from Mumbai could be perceived as threats to the safety of its players.

The BCB source mentioned that the possibility of relocating the matches to another Indian city, potentially in the south, or even to Sri Lanka, will be discussed during the meeting, likely to take place at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium in Dhaka.

Nevertheless, it appears that the ICC remains steadfast in its belief that such hypothetical scenarios do not constitute a valid reason for changing match venues.

In its security evaluation for the prestigious event, the ICC has categorized the threat level as low to moderate, which is standard for such occasions.

It is expected that the Bangladesh team will reiterate the issue of Mustafizur's IPL removal to bolster its claims of security threats, alongside recent anti-Bangladesh protests occurring in various regions of India.

However, the ICC is unlikely to alter its position, as last-minute venue changes could set a concerning precedent, allowing other member nations to make similar demands in the future, complicating an already established schedule.

The governing body will also aim to reassure Bangladesh about the stringent security measures that will be implemented during the World Cup.

ICC Anti-Corruption Unit Head in Dhaka

In addition, Andrew Ephgrave, the head of the ICC's anti-corruption unit, will also be in Dhaka to investigate the suspension of nine local players by the BCB due to their alleged involvement in match-fixing.

These players were expected to participate in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

The matter was brought up during a press conference by the Cricketers' Welfare Association of Bangladesh on Thursday, prompting the ICC to take a closer look at the issue.