The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has formally requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to relocate its team's matches for the upcoming T20 World Cup away from India, citing significant security apprehensions. The board's president, Aminul Islam, stated that the BCB's future course of action is now entirely dependent on the global governing body's response.
Security Concerns Prompt Formal Request
The decision followed two high-level meetings involving all directors of the cricket board. Aminul Islam told reporters on Monday that the board currently does not feel secure sending the national team to India for the global tournament. He clarified that the BCB has communicated its concerns directly to the ICC via email, explicitly stating the security issues within the framework of the ICC's relevant clauses.
"We have sent an email to the ICC and we are expecting them to tell us to have a meeting with them soon where we will express our concern," Aminul explained, detailing the process. He stressed that the board is not in direct communication with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding this matter, as the T20 World Cup is an ICC-organized event.
The Mustafizur Rahman Trigger
This dramatic move comes in the wake of a recent incident involving Bangladesh's premier left-arm pacer, Mustafizur Rahman. The bowler was released from his Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, the Kolkata Knight Riders, ahead of the tournament's playoffs. This release was executed under the directive of the BCCI, which reportedly did not consult the BCB beforehand.
While not explicitly linking the two events, the timing of the BCB's letter to the ICC suggests the Mustafizur episode amplified existing security and procedural worries. The board perceives the unilateral decision by the Indian board as a point of contention regarding the safety and management of its players.
BCB Distinguishes Bilateral Cricket from World Cup Issue
Amid growing speculation that India might reconsider its scheduled white-ball tour to Bangladesh in September as a retaliatory measure, Aminul Islam was quick to draw a clear distinction. He asserted that bilateral cricket relations and World Cup security are separate matters.
"Look, cricket between the two countries... is one thing and security concern is another matter," the BCB president stated. He emphasized that the board's immediate focus is solely on resolving the security predicament for the T20 World Cup.
In a related development, a day after the BCB's request to the ICC, the Bangladesh Ministry of Information and Broadcasting ordered television broadcasters in the country to stop airing the IPL. Aminul termed this a sovereign decision of the government, which the BCB supports. "This is India's domestic cricket, and in domestic cricket, whom to show or not to show is the decision of our government… we have nothing to say," he remarked.
The cricketing world now awaits the ICC's formal response, which will determine whether one of the tournament's participating nations will compete in a different location. The situation adds a complex geopolitical layer to the preparations for the marquee T20 event.
