BCB Rejects ESPNcricinfo Report on T20 World Cup Travel to India
The Chronify
The Bangladesh Cricket Board has dismissed an ESPNcricinfo report claiming the ICC rejected Bangladesh’s request to relocate its T20 World Cup matches from India, calling the report inaccurate and misleading.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Wednesday rejected a report by ESPNcricinfo that claimed the International Cricket Council (ICC) had refused Bangladesh’s request to move its matches from India for the upcoming men’s T20 World Cup over security concerns.
A senior BCB official, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the report as “inaccurate and misleading,” saying the ICC did not issue any ultimatum or warning to Bangladesh regarding its participation in the tournament.
ESPNcricinfo had earlier reported that during a virtual meeting, the ICC told the BCB that Bangladesh would be required to travel to India or risk forfeiting points in the competition. However, the BCB official told The Daily Star that no such meeting took place.
“There was no conference call. The ICC responded to our mail last night. The news published by ESPNcricinfo isn’t right,” the official said. “They sent us an email and raised some queries. We will issue a media release shortly.”
The official further clarified that the ICC’s communication did not include any deadline or threat. “No kind of ultimatum was mentioned in the email,” he added.
This was the first formal response from the ICC since Bangladesh approached the governing body on Sunday, requesting that its T20 World Cup fixtures be shifted out of India due to security concerns. Sources said the ICC has asked the BCB to provide a more detailed written explanation of the specific issues cited.
The issue has emerged amid heightened tension surrounding Bangladesh’s cricketing engagements in India. Relations were reportedly strained after Bangladesh left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman was withdrawn from the Indian Premier League, a move that unsettled the Bangladesh camp.
Following the development, Bangladesh decided not to send its team to India for the T20 World Cup, scheduled to begin on February 7, and also imposed a ban on the broadcast of the Indian Premier League within Bangladesh.
Discussions between the ICC and the BCB are ongoing, with Bangladesh awaiting further clarification before making a final decision on its participation in the tournament.
