The International Cricket Council has rejected Bangladesh’s request to shift its T20 World Cup matches out of India, citing no serious security threats. After a detailed security assessment, the ICC stated that safety levels in India remain within acceptable limits for international events.
Venue Row Ends as ICC Confirms India for Bangladesh Matches
New Delhi: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has clarified its position on the controversy surrounding the venue of the T20 World Cup. The ICC has rejected the Bangladesh Cricket Board's demand to move Bangladesh's matches out of India. Based on the latest security review report, the ICC stated that there is no serious security threat to the Bangladesh team in India.
Bangladesh's objection arose when Asif Nazrul, an advisor to the country's Sports Ministry, claimed that some Bangladeshi players, especially Mustafizur Rahman, might face security threats in India. Following these statements, the Bangladesh Cricket Board requested the ICC to relocate the venue for their matches.
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An investigation conducted by ICC's independent security agencies did not substantiate Bangladesh's claims. According to the report, the security level in India throughout the tournament was found to be in the "low to moderate" category, which is considered normal for any major international tournament. According to sources, the ICC is regularly reviewing security arrangements in collaboration with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the local administration.
However, the Bangladesh Cricket Board has not officially acknowledged that its request has been completely rejected. The BCB maintains that it made the request solely for the safety of its players and is currently awaiting a formal response from the ICC. Sources, however, indicate that any changes to the current schedule are highly unlikely.
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The controversy escalated further when Mustafizur Rahman was released from the IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders. Following this, the Bangladesh government expressed displeasure and banned the broadcast of the IPL in the country. This development further strained cricketing relations between the two countries.
Following the ICC's stance, it has now become clear that Bangladesh will have to play all its scheduled league matches for the T20 World Cup in India. The ICC believes that security arrangements are adequate and the tournament will be held as per schedule.
