T20 World Cup Games Shift: Bangladesh Cricket Board Raises Security Concerns
Bangladesh Cricket Board's Security Concerns
An anticipated online discussion between the ICC and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) regarding the relocation of the T20 World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka did not occur as scheduled on Tuesday.
Recently, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) requested that Kolkata Knight Riders release Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from their roster, citing "developments all around" in a vague reference to the unrest affecting Hindus in Bangladesh.
In response, the BCB expressed on Monday its concerns about the safety of sending the national team to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup, attributing this to worsening diplomatic relations.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced via its official PSL account on X that Mustafizur will participate in the next season of the Pakistan Super League, despite the player auction not yet taking place.
Sources from the BCB indicate that President Aminul Islam Bulbul is seeking a formal response to an email sent to the ICC regarding their security concerns, particularly after the BCCI's decision to terminate Mustafizur's contract with KKR, valued at Rs 9.2 crore.
In retaliation, the BCB has formally requested the ICC to move its league matches from India to Sri Lanka.
Bangladesh is scheduled to play three matches in Kolkata, including fixtures against West Indies and England, with another match against Nepal set for Mumbai.
The ICC's core team is currently exploring various options, including the possibility of relocating the matches to Sri Lanka, although this would require significant logistical adjustments with only a month remaining before the tournament begins.
This would involve rescheduling, as well as addressing ticketing and broadcasting challenges. It remains uncertain whether the ICC will comply with the BCB's requests.
Another potential solution could involve sending a BCB reconnaissance team to India to evaluate the security landscape.
The final option would be to exclude Bangladesh from the tournament if they refuse to compete at the designated venues.