ICC to ask Bangladesh to play in India, with venues to be changed: Indian media
BCB president Aminul Islam has already made his stance clear, saying that alternative venues in India still mean playing in India.
Although the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has applied to move World Cup matches out of India, the chances of that request being implemented appear very slim. According to Indian media, the ICC is set to propose that Bangladesh play at two alternative venues within India, rather than in Sri Lanka.
Citing security concerns for Bangladeshi nationals in India, the BCB had written twice to the ICC requesting that the upcoming T20 World Cup matches be shifted to Sri Lanka. However, the world cricket governing body believes that relocating venues from one country to another at the very last moment before the tournament begins would be logistically difficult. As an alternative, the ICC is considering hosting Bangladesh's matches in Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram.
BCB president Aminul Islam has already made his stance clear, saying that alternative venues in India still mean playing in India.
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Under the current schedule, the group stage of the 10th T20 World Cup, set to begin on 7 February, will see Bangladesh play all four of their matches in India—three in Kolkata and the final one in Mumbai. Indian cricket portal Cricbuzz reported that while the BCB remains firm on playing in Sri Lanka, the ICC is exploring alternative venues within India.
It is understood that the ICC and T20 World Cup co-host BCCI have already been in contact with the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) and the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA). NDTV has reported similar information.
Yesterday, a meeting took place in Vadodara, Gujarat, between ICC chairman Jay Shah and BCCI officials. However, no media outlet has confirmed whether the decision to propose alternative venues was taken at that meeting. NDTV's report outlined the ICC's possible reasoning for suggesting other Indian venues. On Sunday, during the first ODI of the India–New Zealand series in Gujarat, Bangladeshi umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid Saikat officiated the match. The report suggested that, in response to the BCB's security concerns, the ICC may cite Saikat's example and advise Bangladesh to play their T20 World Cup matches in India.
The BCB's security concerns in India stem from the incident on 3 January, when Mustafizur Rahman was withdrawn from the IPL following threats from extremists. Bangladesh questioned how the entire national team, along with journalists, sponsors and spectators travelling for the World Cup, could be kept safe if even one player's security could not be ensured, and therefore requested that matches be moved out of India.
According to Cricbuzz, due to logistical challenges ahead of the World Cup starting in the first week of February, the likelihood of the ICC accepting Bangladesh's request appears very low. The ICC may communicate its decision to Bangladesh today, Monday.
However, if the ICC proposes or decides on a venue change within India, the BCB is unlikely to accept it. Speaking in Sylhet last Saturday amid rumours of a move to Chennai, BCB president Aminul Islam said: "Another venue in India is still India. As you know, we are not taking this World Cup decision alone. We will consult the government, and we are still where we were before."
