ICC to dispatch delegation to Bangladesh amid T20 World Cup venue dispute

Dhaka: In an effort to break the deadlock over Bangladesh’s participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to send a delegation to Bangladesh for direct talks ahead of the tournament, which is scheduled to be hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7.

ICC sources told IANS that the delegation is expected to travel within the next few days for a final face-to-face meeting with officials of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). A decision on the issue is likely to be announced following the discussions. The visit is being viewed as a significant move, especially after earlier attempts to resolve the matter through emails and virtual meetings failed to produce a breakthrough.

“An ICC delegation will visit Bangladesh in a few days for a final one-on-one meeting with BCB officials regarding the T20 World Cup, after which a decision will be announced,” ICC sources confirmed.

The development follows a firm stance taken by the Bangladesh Cricket Board and the country’s sports ministry against playing any matches in India, a position that emerged after the BCCI asked IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to drop Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their squad.

Bangladesh’s interim government Youth and Sports Adviser, Asif Nazrul, also confirmed the proposed ICC visit. Speaking at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka, he said that ICC official Aminul Islam had informed him about the likely visit of an ICC team. “There is no question of changing our position. We are keen to participate in the World Cup, particularly in Sri Lanka, and I firmly believe that making such arrangements is not impossible,” Nazrul was quoted as saying by The Daily Star.

Earlier, the ICC had held a video conference with the BCB to discuss Bangladesh’s participation in the global event. During the meeting, the BCB reiterated its demand that its matches be shifted outside India. While the ICC noted that the tournament schedule had already been finalised and urged Bangladesh to reconsider, the BCB maintained its stand. Both sides agreed to continue dialogue in search of a possible solution.

As per the current schedule, Bangladesh are slated to play three matches in India — against the West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9, and England on February 14 in Kolkata — before moving to Mumbai to face Nepal on February 17.

With inputs from IANS