By Shivani P Menon
With less than a month to go before the T20 World Cup begins, the ICC has yet to decide on the venue where Bangladesh will play their matches. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has requested a shift in their venues from India to Sri Lanka, citing security reasons.
The BCB has sent multiple letters to the International Cricket Council (ICC) citing this issue. The reason given is that there are players’ safety concerns amid current political tensions between India and Bangladesh.
ICC has yet to respond to the issue and give their decision, but reports suggest that, they are not looking to shift the venues out of India because of logistical difficulties.
ICC and BCCI are currently looking at new venues inside India itself. Reports suggest that Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram are being considered as options for Bangladesh’s matches by the BCCI. The Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) and Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) have shown interest in hosting the matches.
The TNCA has informed ICC and BCCI that adding more games would not be a problem for them.
At the upcoming World Cup, Chepauk Stadium in Chennai is hosting seven World Cup matches, while Thiruvananthapuram would be the sixth Indian venue if at all Bangladesh are ready to play there.
This issue arose after the BCCI had instructed IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Mustafizur Rahman, a fast bowler from Bangladesh. This made Bangladesh request that ICC change the venue, and eventually banned Indian Premier League (IPL) broadcasting, a first since the beginning of the league in 2008.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has shown interest in hosting Bangladesh’s matches if neither India nor Sri Lanka is deemed suitable.
According to the current schedule, Bangladesh is supposed to play the first three matches in Kolkata, against West Indies on February 7, followed by Italy on the 9th, and England on the 14th of the same month.