NEW DELHI: Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Aminul Islam Bulbul has strongly denied reports claiming that the ICC has forced Bangladesh to play all their T20 World Cup matches in India. He called such reports false and said the board is standing firm on its concerns about player and staff safety.Bulbul spoke to the media on Wednesday after meeting Sports Advisor Asif Nazrul along with other BCB directors. He made it clear that the board’s main concern is security while travelling to India for the ICC T20 World Cup.
“We first wrote to the ICC regarding the importance of security and safety. While our scope is limited to looking after the players, there is a large population beyond them, including journalists, sponsors, and cricket lovers,” Bulbul said.He explained that any overseas tour needs government approval, which is why the BCB has asked for guidance from the authorities.“Since a government order is required for any overseas trip, we are seeking the government’s guidance. If safety and security do not improve, we will continue to fight for our rights regarding this World Cup.“This is a valid concern; we have played many World Cups before but never raised such issues until now,” he added.Bulbul also addressed media reports suggesting that the ICC told Bangladesh they must play in India or lose points. He dismissed those claims and said they are misleading.“There is propaganda claiming the ICC informed us that playing in Sri Lanka is impossible, which is false news. We have been in communication with the ICC, and they have asked us to specify our issues. We are currently documenting those issues for them,” he said.When asked about possible consequences if Bangladesh refuses to travel to India, Bulbul pointed to past examples involving other teams.“The BCB has certainly considered that. When the Champions Trophy was held [last year], India did not travel to Pakistan, and similarly, Pakistan did not go to India for the last few World Cups. Therefore, we hope for a proper resolution. If we have to compromise on the World Cup due to security issues in India, we will remain firm on our stance,” he said.Meanwhile, the BCB confirmed on Wednesday that the ICC has responded to their concerns and is open to discussions. The board said the ICC wants to work closely with them to ensure Bangladesh’s full participation. “The Bangladesh Cricket Board has received response from the ICC regarding the Board’s expressed concerns over the safety and security of the Bangladesh National Cricket Team in India for the ICC T20 World Cup, including the request for relocation of the team’s matches,” the BCB said.“In its communication, the ICC has reiterated its commitment to ensuring the full and uninterrupted participation of the Bangladesh team in the tournament.“The ICC has conveyed its willingness to work closely with the BCB to address the concerns raised and has assured that the Board’s inputs will be welcomed and duly considered as part of the detailed security planning for the event,” it added.
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