Bangladesh want ICC to shift their matches out of India to Sri Lanka due to security concerns, but that is nearly an impossible task now, given the time left before the tournament commences.
The had played down any concerns regarding security in India, but the BCB has also stayed firm that they don’t want to play the marquee event in India. The ICC and BCB have involved in frequent talks to find a middle ground, but to no avail.
Reportedly, Bangladesh requested the ICC to swap their group with Ireland, which would automatically shift their venues from India to Sri Lanka. Ireland are placed in Group B compring Sri Lanka, Australia, Oman and Zimbabwe, and will play all games in Sri Lanka. However, the ICC has reportedly assured the Ireland Cricket Board that there will be no changes in their matches.
“We’ve received definitive assurances that we won’t move from the original schedule. We’re definitely playing the Group Stage in Sri Lanka,” an official from CI told Cricbuzz in a statement.
What’s Next For ICC And BCB?
The ICC is running out of time to convince BCB to play the matches in India. They’ve been given all security assurances, and the ball now rests in BCB’s court to accept or refuse to play in India. There is not much time left before the tournament gets underway, so a clear picture could be out soon. The BCB most likely will agree to the call, given that the board is in a huge financial crunch, and they can’t afford to lose out on big money from playing the T20 World Cup. Also, refusal to play the T20 World Cup might also invite heavy sanctions from the ICC. So, unless the BCB is ready to risk everything, it should soften its stance and agree to play the T20 World Cup in India.