Bangladesh to play T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka amid ICC warning

Bangladesh’s Government and Cricket Officials Reiterate Stance on Not Traveling to India for T20 World Cup

The government of Bangladesh and cricket officials have reaffirmed their decision not to travel to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup. The International Cricket Council (ICC) had previously warned that Bangladesh could be replaced by Scotland in Group C if it did not agree to play its matches in India.

In a meeting with BCB President Aminul Islam, Bangladeshi cricketers, and government representatives in Dhaka on Thursday, the decision was reiterated. The ICC had given the BCB a 24-hour ultimatum to review its decision and provide a response.

According to Islam, the global body’s warning was not taken seriously due to its inability to enforce it. “We want to play the World Cup, but we won’t play in India,” he said. “The ICC will miss out on 200 million people watching the World Cup if Bangladesh were expelled from the tournament.”

Bangladesh is scheduled to play its opening match against the West Indies at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on February 7. The team has refused to send its players to India due to concerns over player safety and security.

The BCB’s decision was influenced by the removal of star fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL) following instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The ICC had shared detailed security assessments with the BCB, but the organization maintained its position despite these efforts.

The ICC spokesperson stated that the reports concluded there was no credible threat to the safety or security of the Bangladesh team in India. However, Asif Nazrul, a youth and sports adviser in the interim Bangladeshi government, dismissed this claim, saying it had failed to quash Bangladesh’s concerns.

Bangladesh captain Litton Das expressed uncertainty over his team’s participation due to the ongoing tensions between the two nations. Diplomatic relations have been strained since August last year, when former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to New Delhi from Dhaka after an uprising against her rule.

Source: Al Jazeera