The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has stated it is not aware of any official plans to change the venues for Bangladesh's matches in the upcoming T20 World Cup, putting the ball firmly in the International Cricket Council's (ICC) court. This comes amid reports that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) requested a shift due to security apprehensions.
BCCI Awaiting Official Communication from ICC
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia addressed the media, clarifying the Indian board's position. He confirmed that the BCCI has not received any formal communication from the ICC regarding the potential relocation of Bangladesh's scheduled matches. Saikia emphasised that the matter is primarily between the BCB and the global governing body.
"The BCCI has not received any communication regarding the matter of shifting Bangladesh matches to Chennai or anywhere else, and it is beyond our control," Saikia was quoted as saying by IANS. He added that if the ICC conveys any final decision, the BCCI, as the host, will take the necessary steps, but for now, they are not privy to such information.
Root of the BCB's Security Concerns
The issue stems from a formal request sent by the Bangladesh Cricket Board to the ICC. The BCB cited "security concerns" linked to recent tensions between the two nations and asked for its team's matches to be moved to the other host country, Sri Lanka. The BCB also indicated it had received an initial response from the ICC assuring them the matter would be looked into.
These apprehensions reportedly followed the release of Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) earlier. The BCCI instructed his release for unspecified reasons, coinciding with reports of attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, which added to the diplomatic unease.
Potential New Venues and Original Schedule
While Sri Lanka was Bangladesh's preferred alternative, some reports suggest the ICC is considering other Indian cities instead. Chennai and Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram) are reportedly being evaluated as potential replacements for the originally allotted venues of Kolkata and Mumbai.
As per the existing fixture for the tournament, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7, Bangladesh is scheduled to play three matches in Kolkata: against the West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9, and England on February 14. Their final group match is against Nepal in Mumbai on February 17.
The situation remains fluid, with the BCCI awaiting an official directive from the ICC. The final decision will have significant logistical implications for the marquee tournament's schedule and operations.
