Now counting days are left for the start of T20 World Cup but there is suspense regarding Bangladesh’s participation in it. If reports are to be believed, ICC has given time till January 21 to Bangladesh Cricket Board to clarify whether it will play World Cup matches in India or not. If Bangladesh decides not to come to India, then a new team will get a chance to play in the World Cup in its place. On the other hand, BCB has denied any such deadline given to itself by ICC.
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Bangladesh Cricket Board has been showing tantrum ever since Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was released from the squad of IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders. It has to play all its group matches of the T20 World Cup in Kolkata and Mumbai but it has demanded from the ICC that its matches be shifted outside India i.e. to co-host Sri Lanka. For this he has cited ‘security reasons’. Talks were also held between ICC and BCB to resolve the deadlock.
ICC rejected Bangladesh’s demand
Rejecting Bangladesh’s ‘security’ concerns, the ICC has clearly said that neither its matches will be shifted out of India nor its group will be swapped with any other team. According to a report by ESPN Cricinfo, in the meeting held between ICC and BCB officials last Saturday, both sides seemed adamant on their stand. According to the same report, the ICC has given the Bangladesh Cricket Board a deadline of January 21 to give its final decision regarding playing the World Cup in India.
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BCB refused to meet the deadline
Bangladeshi newspaper Daily Star, quoting BCB Media Committee Chairman Amjad Hussain, has written, ‘Last Saturday i.e. on January 17, an ICC representative had come and representatives of our cricket board had a meeting with him. There is an issue of venue regarding participation in the World Cup. We told them about our reluctance to play there. We requested for an alternative venue and we had a detailed discussion. Hussain further said, ‘They told us that they will inform the ICC on this issue and will inform us about the decision later. Regarding these conversations, he did not mention any specific date or did not tell when he would give us information. He just told us that he will let us know when the next discussion will take place.
