ICC Team to Address Bangladesh’s Concerns Over T20 World Cup Participation

A two-member team from the International Cricket Council (ICC) is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on Saturday to tackle the ongoing standoff regarding Bangladesh’s involvement in the upcoming T20 World Cup in India. The primary focus of the visit is to address the security apprehensions raised by Bangladesh, with the ICC already indicating that relocating the matches is not a feasible option.

Amid concerns over player safety, Bangladesh has been urging the ICC to move their World Cup fixtures, originally set to take place in Kolkata and Mumbai. The issue escalated after national team player Mustafizur Rahman was abruptly released from his IPL contract with the Kolkata Knight Riders following instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

A source familiar with the situation revealed that discussions between the ICC officials and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) will include potential solutions to the current impasse. The involvement of Bangladesh government officials in the talks is also anticipated.

During recent discussions, the BCB highlighted its reservations, particularly regarding playing in Mumbai, where Bangladesh is scheduled to play against Nepal at the Wankhede Stadium on February 17. The BCB expressed concerns about statements made by certain Indian politicians in Mumbai that could be perceived as a threat to the players’ security.

While the possibility of relocating the matches to a different Indian city or even to Sri Lanka will be explored during the upcoming meeting, the ICC has maintained its stance against last-minute venue changes, citing potential challenges and precedence-setting issues.

Additionally, the ICC will emphasize the stringent security measures in place for the World Cup, aiming to reassure Bangladesh of the players’ safety throughout the tournament.

ICC ACU Investigation in Dhaka

Simultaneously, Andrew Ephgrave, the head of the ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU), will also be in Dhaka to investigate the suspension of nine local players by the BCB for alleged involvement in match-fixing. These players were slated to participate in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

Concerns surrounding the issue were raised during a press conference held by the Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB), prompting the ICC to delve deeper into the matter for a thorough examination.