Bangladesh board says ICC receptive to security concerns amid India hosting T20 World Cup
Dhaka
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Wednesday said the International Cricket Council (ICC) has conveyed its willingness to work closely with it to address concerns related to Bangladesh’s participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, scheduled to be held in India next month.
The development comes amid heightened tensions following the ouster of Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL) on the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) instructions, a move that triggered sharp reactions in Dhaka. In response, a livid BCB had written to the ICC demanding that Bangladesh’s four World Cup matches in India be shifted to co-host Sri Lanka, citing safety and security concerns for its players.
In a statement, the BCB said it had received a formal response from the ICC regarding the issues raised by the board, including the request for relocation of matches. “The Bangladesh Cricket Board has received a response from the ICC regarding the Board’s expressed concerns over the safety and security of the Bangladesh National Cricket Team in India for the ICC T20 World Cup,” the statement said.
According to the BCB, the ICC reiterated its commitment to ensuring Bangladesh’s “full and uninterrupted participation” in the tournament. “The ICC has conveyed its willingness to work closely with the BCB to address the concerns raised and has assured that the Board’s inputs will be welcomed and duly considered as part of the detailed security planning for the event,” it added.
However, the ICC has not issued any public statement on the matter so far.
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is set to begin on February 7, with India and Sri Lanka serving as co-hosts. Bangladesh are scheduled to play all four of their group-stage matches in India, with fixtures slated in Kolkata and Mumbai.
While the BCB’s demand for relocation remains under consideration, officials indicated that discussions with the ICC are ongoing, and further clarity is expected as the tournament approaches.
