Will Bangladesh Compete in the T20 World Cup? ICC Delegation Heads to Dhaka for Crucial Talks
ICC's Visit to Bangladesh: A Step Towards T20 World Cup Resolution
Dhaka: To address the ongoing uncertainty regarding Bangladesh's involvement in the forthcoming T20 World Cup, the International Cricket Council (ICC) plans to dispatch a team to Bangladesh for face-to-face discussions prior to the tournament, which is set to take place in India and Sri Lanka starting February 7.
Sources within the ICC have indicated that the delegation will arrive shortly for a crucial meeting with officials from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) concerning the T20 World Cup. An announcement regarding the outcome of these discussions is expected to follow. This visit is particularly significant, as earlier attempts to resolve the matter through emails and virtual meetings have not been successful.
According to ICC sources, "The ICC delegation will travel to Bangladesh in a few days for a final one-on-one meeting with BCB officials regarding the T20 World Cup, and a decision will be announced after it."
This development follows a firm stance taken by the Bangladesh Cricket Board and the sports ministry, which declared they would not participate in any matches in India after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) requested that IPL franchise KKR exclude Bangladeshi player Mustafizur Rehman from their lineup.
Asif Nazrul, the Youth and Sports Adviser to Bangladesh's interim government, also confirmed the ICC's visit to the media. While speaking at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, he stated, "According to the latest updates, Mr. Aminul Islam informed me that an ICC team is likely to come to Bangladesh for discussions. There is no chance of us changing our stance. We are eager to play in the World Cup, particularly in Sri Lanka, and I strongly believe that organizing this is not impossible," as reported by The Daily Star.
Previously, the ICC conducted a video conference with the BCB, focusing on Bangladesh's participation in the global event. During this meeting, the BCB reiterated its request to have its matches relocated outside of India. The ICC noted that the tournament schedule had already been finalized and encouraged the BCB to reconsider its position, but the BCB remained resolute. Both parties agreed to continue discussions to seek a potential resolution.
Bangladesh is slated to play three matches in India: against the West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9, and England on February 14 in Kolkata, before heading to Mumbai to face Nepal on February 17.