ICC rejects Bangladesh Cricket Board's claim of security threat; players should come to India for T20 World Cup

NEW DELHI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rejected Bangladesh's request to shift its Twenty20 World Cup matches to another country. The ICC, which assessed the security situation in India, clarified that there is no direct threat to the Bangladesh team in the country.

There were huge protests in Bangladesh after the BCCI suggested excluding Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL. Following this, the Bangladesh government banned the broadcasting of the IPL in the country. Bangladesh's move to a strict stance that the World Cup matches will not be played in India is a continuation of this.

Bangladesh Sports Ministry Advisor Asif Nazrul had earlier demanded that the Bangladesh team and star player Mustafizur Rahman face a security threat in India, and therefore, the matches should be shifted out of India. However, ICC sources indicate that this claim is not entirely true. An inspection conducted by internationally recognized security experts found no threat to the matches in Kolkata and Mumbai.

The security level in India is 'low to moderate'. This is the security rating typically assigned to major sporting events worldwide. There is no specific threat to Bangladesh officials or players. There is no possibility of changing the schedule of the tournament, which starts on February 7. The best security arrangements have been made in collaboration with the BCCI. Meanwhile, the Bangladesh players are worried that they will miss the World Cup if the government of their own country takes a tough stance.

Former captain Iqbal and current Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto have warned that such approaches will backfire in the future. Shanto stated that the players are going through a lot of mental pressure. Although the Bangladesh Cricket Board has officially requested that the matches be postponed, it is indicated that Bangladesh has no other option but to come to India after the ICC clarified its position.