NEW DELHI: Bangladesh sports advisor Asif Nazrul on Monday claimed that the ICC has acknowledged his country’s specific security concerns over traveling to India for the T20 World Cup. However, the game’s global governing body later rejected the claim and called it “a complete lie”.
Bangladesh have shown reluctance to tour India for the tournament which is scheduled to begin on February 7. The board has even requested that their matches be shifted to co-host Sri Lanka citing security concerns. This came after pacer Mustafizur Rahman was released from the IPL on instructions from the BCCI which referred to unspecified “developments” as the reason.
“I need to inform you that the security team of the ICC and those in charge of security have sent a letter (to BCB). In that letter, it has been said that three things will increase the security threat to the Bangladesh team,” Nazrul said during a press conference in Dhaka as quoted by local newspaper Daily Star.
“One is if Mustafizur (Rahman) is included in the Bangladesh team. Two, if the supporters of the Bangladesh team walk around wearing the national jersey of Bangladesh. And the third is that the security threat of the Bangladesh team will increase as the (Bangladesh) elections approach,” he added.
The ICC however while confirming that it did communicate with the BCB strongly denied Nazrul’s claim that it accepted Bangladesh’s concerns.
“There has been an internal communication from ICC to BCB with regards to security in India. But what Asif Nazrul said is a complete lie. ICC’s communication never mentions that Mustafizur’s selection will be an issue.
“It’s complete falsehood…There is no such advisory in formal communication,” an ICC source told PTI.
The upcoming T20 World Cup is scheduled to be held from February 7 to March 8 across venues in India and Sri Lanka.
The BCB’s concerns surfaced after Mustafizur was released from IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders amid reports of attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh.
As per the current schedule, Bangladesh are set to play their first three group matches in Kolkata and their final group game in Mumbai.
Following Mustafizur’s removal from the KKR squad, the Bangladesh government also banned the broadcast of the IPL in the country.
However, former captain Tamim Iqbal and current Test skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto have advised caution on the issue. Tamim warned that decisions taken now could have consequences even a decade later.
Shanto has also spoken about the mental pressure players are under at the thought of missing out on a World Cup. Nazrul though has maintained a firm stance and reiterated that Bangladesh will not move away from its demands.
(With PTI Inputs)
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