Bangladesh Cricket Board Clarifies Participation Status for ICC T20 World Cup
BCB Denies ICC Deadline for World Cup Decision
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has refuted claims that the International Cricket Council (ICC) set a January 21 deadline for them to confirm their participation in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup, which is set to commence on February 7. Amjad Hossain, the chairman of the media committee, stated that no specific date has been communicated to them.
ICC's Ultimatum and Potential Replacement
According to sources within the ICC, the governing body had previously issued an ultimatum to the BCB, requiring a final decision on whether the Bangladesh cricket team would travel to India for the World Cup by Wednesday, January 21. Should the BCB opt out, it is likely that Scotland will be named as a replacement team, based on current rankings. The T20 World Cup is scheduled to begin on February 7.
BCB's Position on Venue Concerns
In a media briefing in Dhaka, Amjad mentioned that during a meeting with an ICC representative on January 17, the BCB expressed concerns regarding the venue for the World Cup. They requested an alternative location due to their reluctance to play in India, citing safety issues. Amjad noted that the ICC representatives assured them that these concerns would be communicated to the ICC, and they would await further discussions.
Security Concerns and ICC's Stance
During the recent discussions, which marked the second meeting within the week, the BCB reiterated its desire to participate in the T20 World Cup, but outside of India. Following the release of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) IPL squad due to ongoing minority issues in Bangladesh, the BCB has been advocating for matches to be relocated, emphasizing player safety.
Conversely, the ICC has maintained its original schedule, placing Bangladesh in Group C alongside Italy, New Zealand, West Indies, and Nepal. With the opening match against the West Indies in Kolkata just three weeks away, the BCB has yet to finalize its decision.
ICC's Assurance on Security
In the latest talks, the ICC declined a proposal to swap Bangladesh and Ireland's group placements, which would have allowed Bangladesh to play their initial matches in Sri Lanka. The ICC has assured the BCB that there are no security threats to the Bangladesh team in India.
Independent risk assessments conducted by recognized security experts have indicated that the overall security risk for the tournament in India is low to moderate, consistent with many major global sporting events. These assessments did not identify any specific threats to the Bangladesh team or the match venues.