According to ESPNcricinfo, in a virtual meeting with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Tuesday, January 6, the ICC clarified that Bangladesh must travel to India for the tournament, dismissing the security concerns raised by the BCB.
The ICC is said to have communicated that participating in India is mandatory for Bangladesh, or they risk losing points in the tournament.
Nevertheless, the BCB has challenged this narrative, asserting that no such ultimatum was issued by the global governing body during the meeting, as reported by ESPNcricinfo.
No official communication yet
Despite the gravity of the situation, neither the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) nor the BCB has released an official statement to clarify the outcomes of Tuesday’s discussions.
The ICC arranged the call following a letter from the BCB on Sunday, January 4, requesting the council to “consider” relocating Bangladesh’s matches outside India.
Tournament schedule and Bangladesh fixtures
The 20-team men’s T20 World Cup is set to commence on February 7 and conclude on March 8, with matches taking place across India and Sri Lanka.
Bangladesh is placed in Group C and is scheduled to play their first three matches in Kolkata — against West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9, and England on February 14.
Their final group-stage match, against Nepal, is planned for Mumbai on February 17, according to tournament details referenced by ESPNcricinfo.
Mustafizur Rahman IPL decision controversy
The BCB’s approach to the ICC was triggered by a recent decision concerning Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman. The BCCI had “instructed” Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Mustafizur, who was acquired by the franchise for ₹9.2 crore at the IPL auction in December.
This decision was communicated to the media by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, although no explanation was publicly given for the request for the franchise to release the pacer.
Reports indicate that the IPL Governing Council did not meet to discuss the Mustafizur matter, raising questions about who else was involved in the decision-making process aside from Saikia.
