ICC T20 World Cup: Bangladesh national team will not play in India, paving the way for Scotland’s participation

Dhaka, 22 January. Bangladesh’s interim government on Thursday refused to send its national cricket team to India for the ICC T20 World Cup, scheduled to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 next month, paving the way for Scotland’s participation in the tournament as Bangladesh’s replacement after the International Cricket Council (ICC) rejected Bangladesh’s demand to change the venue of the match.

ICC, the world body governing cricket, on Wednesday gave an ultimatum to Bangladesh that either it should agree to go to India or they will be replaced by some other team. The ICC said there was no threat to the safety of their players, officials or fans in India. Bangladesh was given time till Thursday to take a decision.

Asif Nazrul said – ‘ICC’s stance is not acceptable to us’

However, taking a firm stance, Bangladesh sports advisor Asif Nazrul announced after a meeting with the national team players that the ICC’s stance was not acceptable to him. Nazrul said, ‘Although our cricketers have worked hard to qualify for the World Cup, the security threat of playing in India still remains. This concern is not based on any hypothetical analysis.

Bangladesh still hopes for justice from ICC

He further said, ‘We are still not giving up hope. Our team is ready. We hope that the ICC will do justice by considering our real security risks and allowing us to play in Sri Lanka.

BCB President Aminul Islam Bulbul said – This is the failure of ICC

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Aminul Islam Bulbul said, ‘The ICC had rejected our request to organize the match outside India. We have no idea about the situation in world cricket. Its popularity is decreasing. They have imprisoned two crore people. Cricket is going to be included in the Olympics, but if a country like ours is not going there, then it is a failure of the ICC.

Aminul Islam Bulbul said, we will continue talks with ICC. We want to play the World Cup, but will not play in India. We will keep fighting. Some surprising decisions were taken in the ICC Board meeting. Mustafizur’s case is not an isolated issue. In that matter (India) was the sole decision maker.

Bangladesh has to play four matches in India (three in Kolkata and one in Mumbai). The country raised security concerns when fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was dropped from the Indian Premier League’s Kolkata franchise Kolkata Knight Riders on the instructions of the Indian Cricket Board.