Aminul Islam Bulbul, president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), stated on Friday that the BCB’s stance is unchanged and that the board has not heard back from the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding its concerns about playing at locations in India for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Due to security concerns, Bangladesh has indicated reluctance to tour India for the event, which is set to start on February 7. Instead, they have sought to move their matches to co-host Sri Lanka.
The BCB’s concerns came after reports of attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh prompted the BCCI to release Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders for unknown reasons.
“We haven’t yet received any reply from the ICC. We have sent all the attachments and proofs of our concern,” a PTI report quoted Bulbul telling media persons in Dhaka.
The head of the BCB stated that the board has made its stance known to the international governing body and emphasized that shifting games to a different Indian city would not allay their worries.
“Any alternate Indian venue at the end of the day is an Indian venue. You all know that no unilateral decision can be taken and we have to abide by the government’s diktat. We are standing where we had been a few days back.”
The head of the BCB stated that before accepting any more calls, the board will wait for the ICC’s response.
“I can’t comment on what we will do if we aren’t allowed to play in Sri Lanka unless the ICC sends its response,” he added.
Three of Bangladesh’s group games are slated to take place in Kolkata and one in Mumbai.
Bulbul added that he was not aware of stories that suggested Chennai and Hyderabad as potential substitute venues.
“I haven’t heard about Hyderabad and Chennai being replacement venues. We might come to know maybe on Monday or Tuesday.”
Bulbul expressed optimism in the national team, stating that Bangladesh has a history of success, especially in subcontinental settings.
“I believe Bangladesh is a big team in world cricket. We have played the quarterfinals of the 2015 ODI World Cup, we played the Champions Trophy semifinals and in sub-continental conditions we have a good chance of doing well,” he said.
In response to the recent controversy surrounding former captain Tamim Iqbal, Bulbul stated that he had asked the concerned official for an explanation and that the BCB director’s public denunciation of the senior cricketer as a “traitor” was an expression of personal opinion.
“It was the personal opinion of the director and I have asked him to give clarification. Tamim has achieved so much and he should have kept that in mind while putting his opinion in public,” Bulbul said.
In retrospect, Bulbul said the period had been instructive for the board.
“It’s a learning experience for 25 board of directors. It’s a mix of ups and downs. But country comes first,” he added.
