The Bangladesh Cricket Board sent a letter to the International Cricket Council yesterday, detailing its security concerns over sending the national team to India for the ICC T20 World Cup.
The ICC had earlier asked the BCB to communicate its concerns in detail in response to the board’s original letter on Sunday, in which it requested the cricket’s global governing body to relocate Bangladesh’s World Cup matches from India.
The board is now waiting for ICC’s response, which could determine whether or not Bangladesh participate in the event, set to begin on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka.
Earlier on Wednesday, BCB President Aminul Islam Bulbul had reaffirmed the board’s stance to not travel to India following a meeting with the Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul.
The adviser had also said the government will not compromise on “national honour or the security of our cricketers” and demanded that Bangladesh’s matches be relocated to Sri Lanka.
Yesterday, Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain echoed Asif Nazrul’s stance.
“We will certainly play outside India… We have an interest in our players’ safety in not sending them to India,” Touhid said.
Meanwhile, former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal urged the board to consider Bangladesh cricket’s future and advocated for continued dialogue.
“One must consider Bangladesh cricket’s interest, future and everything before making any decision. There is nothing better than solving something through dialogue,” Tamim said while attending the trophy unveiling ceremony of Zia Inter-University Cricket Tournament at City Club ground yesterday.
“What I would have done if I were there [in the BCB] is that since it is a sensitive issue, before making a public comment, we would discuss the matter ourselves [within the board]. Because when you publicly make a comment, right or wrong, it is difficult to move from that position.
“Bangladesh cricket’s future comes before anything else. Around 90-95 percent of our finances come from the ICC. So, you have to take the decision based on what will help Bangladesh cricket,” he added.
