Bangladesh World Cup games might be moved out of India
The International Cricket Council (ICC) might be open to considering the Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) request to shift their T20 World Cup games out of India.
The world body has not yet taken a call or formally met, more so today being a Sunday, but Cricbuzz understands that the ICC is not averse to moving the Bangladesh games to Sri Lanka, the co-hosts of the T20 World Cup.
Bangladesh are to play all their league games in India -- three in Kolkata and one in Mumbai -- and a decision is likely to be taken over the next one or two days.
Earlier, the BCB held an emergency meeting in Dhaka and passed a resolution that the Bangladesh team will not travel to India for the tournament.
"Following a thorough assessment of the prevailing situation and the growing concerns regarding the safety and security of the Bangladesh contingent in India and considering the advice from the Bangladesh Government, the Board of Directors resolved that the Bangladesh National Team will not travel to India for the tournament under the current conditions," the BCB said in a statement.
The statement went on to add, "In light of this decision, the BCB has formally requested the International Cricket Council (ICC), as the event authority, to consider relocating all of Bangladesh's matches to a venue outside India," and said it awaits an urgent decision.
The current situation with the Bangladesh board is a clear reaction to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) directive to Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman in view of 'recent developments' in the country. The BCCI did not elaborate on what the recent developments were, but understandably, they relate to reported killings of Hindu minorities in Bangladesh.
The Eden Gardens in Kolkata has been allotted three Bangladesh games, against the West Indies (on February 7), against Italy on February 9 and against England on February 14. The Wankhede in Mumbai is the venue for their fixture versus minnows Nepal on February 17.
The World Cup runs from February 7 to March 8 across eight centres in India and Sri Lanka.
Source: Cricbuzz
