DHAKA: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will hold urgent talks with the country’s interim government in a final effort to ensure the national team’s participation in next month’s Twenty20 World Cup after the International Cricket Council (ICC) rejected their request to move matches out of India.
The ICC board on Wednesday dismissed Bangladesh’s concerns over the safety and security of players and fans in India, despite heightened political tensions between the two neighbours. Bangladesh had asked for their fixtures to be shifted to Sri Lanka, but the global governing body turned down the proposal.
BCB president Aminul Islam said the board has been given a short window to respond. “I asked the ICC board for time to talk to my government for one last time,” Aminul told reporters. “They said it’s a valid point and gave me 24 or 48 hours to get back to them.”
With the tournament set to begin on February 7, Bangladesh now face a difficult choice — accept the original venues or risk being replaced in the competition. Aminul reiterated the board’s stance but acknowledged the players’ desire to compete.
“Bangladesh players want to play the World Cup. The Bangladesh government wants Bangladesh to play the World Cup. But we don’t think India is safe for our players,” he said, while expressing hope for a late compromise.
Strained political relations between the two countries have already impacted cricket ties, with Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman dropped from this year’s Indian Premier League despite having signed with a Kolkata-based franchise.
