New Delhi: Bangladesh won’t challenge the International Cricket Council’s decision to kick them out of the T20 World Cup for refual to play in India.
Bangladesh cited safety concerns for unwillingness to travel to India for their three group stage games in Kolkata and Mumbai and requested shifting them to tournament co-hosts Sri Lanka.
Pointing to an independent assessment report, ICC insisted that there is no credible security threat to Bangladesh players and fans in India, also informing that it isn’t feasible to move matches two weeks prior to the tournament’s start on February 7 due to logistical and financial factors.
With Bangladesh unrelenting from their stance, ICC replaced them with Scotland, who have accepted the invitation.
Reports suggested that Bangladesh Cricket Board had taken the matter to ICC’s dispute resolution committee for a favourable response but BCB’s media committee chairman Amzad Hossain clarified it as untrue.
“We have accepted the decision of the ICC board,” Hossain said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
“Since the ICC has said that we cannot go and play or they cannot shift our games to Sri Lanka, in this case we cannot go and play in India. Our position remains the same. We are not going to any separate arbitration or anything here.”
‘Not possible to play in India’
Hossain said at ICC’s board meeting, Bangladesh had reiterated their stance of unable to play in India due to security concerns. ICC responded by saying they would be replaced if they don’t agree to travel.
“After the ICC board meeting, there was a cabinet meeting of the Bangladesh government and a decision was made there. The decision clearly stated that our team will not be able to go to India. This decision has been communicated by the government,” Amzad said.
“After that, the ICC asked us to reply within 24 hours. We told them politely that it is not possible for us to go and play according to this fixture.”
At BCB’s it was also informed that Ishtiaque Sadeque resigned as a board director, citing personal reasons.