Despite ICC’s rejection of request, Bangladesh want their T20 World Cup matches moved out of India to avoid ‘national humiliation’

“We do not want to play the World Cup at the cost of national humiliation, at the cost of the security of our cricketers, spectators and journalists, or at the cost of the country’s dignity. After reading the letter we received from the ICC today (Wednesday), it felt to us that they have not fully understood the serious security situation that has developed in India for Bangladeshi cricketers,” Nazrul told reporters in Dhaka after a meeting with BCB officials.

The meeting was called after the ICC refused to shift Bangladesh matches to Sri Lanka. In a virtual meeting with the BCB late on Tuesday, the ICC is understood to have informed them that there are no inputs of security threats to any of the teams, and that Bangladesh must play in India as per the Members Playing Agreement (MPA). After learning ICC’s stance, the BCB held a meeting with the government, where Nazrul was present.

Security concerns prevail

Nazrul then stressed that Bangladesh’s issue isn’t restricted to security. “To me, it does not feel like only a security issue – it feels like an issue of national humiliation as well. Still, we are primarily treating it as a security issue. When the Indian cricket board itself is telling the Kolkata (KKR) team that they cannot provide security to this player [Mustafizur], and asking them to drop him from the team – that alone shows there is no environment in India where it is safe to play,” he said.

While the BCB has taken a hardline stance in response to the Board of Cricket for Control in India (BCCI) ejecting Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL, the ICC is understood to have informed them that they have no role to play and reiterated that it is an event held under their umbrella.

But Nazrul saw otherwise. “When it comes to the security of our cricketers, the security of Bangladesh, and the honour and dignity of Bangladesh – there will be no compromise. We want to play cricket, we want to play the World Cup, and since there is another host country, Sri Lanka, we want to play there. We are firm on this position,” he said.

Although there were reports earlier that BCB has been given an ultimatum – either to play in India or risk not playing the T20 World Cup – the board denied any such communication from the ICC. With the ICC putting the ball in BCB’s court, Nazrul said they remain firm in their stance to move the matches to Sri Lanka. “We hope we will be able to explain that to the ICC. And we hope the ICC will consider our arguments impartially and allow us to play in the T20 World Cup that we have earned through hard work. The letter [to the ICC] will be sent tonight or by tomorrow morning, and after that, whatever the situation becomes, we will take a decision. So far, our decision is clear: we will explain to the ICC that there is no environment in India for us to play safely,” he reiterated.

Former Bangladesh captain Aminul Islam, who is now the BCB president, stated that they have to go by their government’s recommendation. “There have been similar events in the past due to security issues. The very reason for hybrid tournaments is security. We hope we will be able to establish our reasons properly. India did not go to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. Pakistan will not go to India either. We hope to get a proper answer [from ICC],” he said.

Though the ICC is yet to make any official statement, it seems there is no risk assessment for any matches in India. “There is no security threat in India, and the ICC has communicated this to the BCB. The ICC hasn’t received any inputs which say the security of the Bangladesh team is at risk in India. Under these circumstances, there is no reason to tweak the schedule and move the matches. There is very little time left. The BCB has been reminded of the MPA, and they have to decide now,” sources in the ICC told The Indian Express.