The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president, Aminul Islam Bulbul, announced on Friday that the board is anxiously awaiting a response from the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding their request to shift T20 World Cup matches from India to co-host Sri Lanka. This position follows security concerns raised after pacer Mustafizur Rahman was released by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the direction of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The BCB has cited recent reports of attacks on minorities in Bangladesh as a key reason for their reluctance to participate in the tournament in India, which is set to commence on February 7.
Bulbul emphasized that despite not having received a reply from the ICC, the board’s stance remains firm. “Shifting matches to another Indian city will not resolve the issue,” he stated, underscoring that any alternate venue in India would still be subject to the same safety concerns. He noted that the board is prepared to wait for the ICC’s response before taking any further steps, including plans should their request to move matches to Sri Lanka be denied.
Originally scheduled to play three group matches in Kolkata and one in Mumbai, the BCB has expressed a preference to avoid these venues altogether. Although there are reports regarding Hyderabad and Chennai as potential alternatives, Bulbul confirmed he was unaware of any such discussions.
Bulbul expressed confidence in the Bangladesh team’s capabilities in sub-continental conditions, highlighting past successes in major tournaments including reaching the quarterfinals of the 2015 ODI World Cup and the semifinals of the Champions Trophy. “I believe Bangladesh is a big team in world cricket,” he stated, signaling optimism for their performance in future matches.
In light of recent controversies, including comments made by a BCB director about former captain Tamim Iqbal, Bulbul clarified that these remarks reflected a personal opinion rather than an official stance of the board. He has sought clarification from the director involved and acknowledged Tamim’s significant contributions to the team.
Reflecting on his tenure, Bulbul described the experience as a valuable lesson for all board directors, navigating through both challenges and achievements. “But country comes first,” he concluded, emphasizing the BCB’s commitment to prioritizing national interest above all else.