The International Cricket Council (ICC) has turned down a request by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to relocate its T20 World Cup matches from India.
According to ESPNcricinfo, the ICC conveyed its decision during a virtual meeting, rejecting Bangladesh’s appeal to shift the matches outside India on security grounds.
The BCB had made the request on Sunday following the release of fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman by his Indian Premier League franchise amid rising tensions between the two countries.
Tensions escalated last month after a protest was staged near Bangladesh’s High Commission in New Delhi, following the killing of a Hindu factory worker, Dipu Chandra Das, in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district. The victim was reportedly beaten and set on fire by a mob that accused him of making derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad.
Bangladesh had demanded the relocation of matches on the grounds of security threats in India. In this regard, just a day earlier, BCB director Asif Akbar had clearly stated that his team would not go to India under any circumstances to play the T20 World Cup.
Meanwhile, a private TV channel, citing sources within Bangladesh cricket, reported that no formal ultimatum has been received from the ICC.
However, the ICC has reportedly conveyed to the BCB that Bangladesh would be required to travel to India for the tournament or risk losing points.
Bangladesh, drawn in Group C, are set to play their three fixtures in Kolkata – against West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9, and England on February 14 –and move to Mumbai for last group match against Nepal on February 17.
Source: Dunya News
