NEW DELHI: After reports emerged that the International Cricket Council (ICC) is exploring a change of venues for Bangladesh's T20 World Cup matches in India, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia clarified that the board has not received any communication from the governing body.
Saikia also set the record straight, stating that the matter lies between the ICC and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), and that the BCCI has no role in it. He added that the necessary steps would be taken if the ICC formally asks the board to make any changes.
"The BCCI has not received any communication regarding the matter of shifting Bangladesh matches to Chennai or anywhere else, and it is beyond our control. It is a matter of communication between the BCB and the ICC, as the ICC is the governing body. If the ICC conveys any decision to us regarding a change of venue, the BCCI, as the host, will take the necessary steps. At present, we are not privy to any such information," BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told IANS.
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A Cricbuzz report claimed that the ICC is considering venue changes for Bangladesh's matches, with Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram emerging as possible alternatives to the originally designated venues of Kolkata and Mumbai.
BCB has written to the ICC seeking a shift of their matches to Sri Lanka, citing security concerns amid rising tensions between the two neighbouring countries. The BCB also said it has received a response from the global body, which has assured them that the request will be examined.
As per the existing schedule, Bangladesh are slated to play three matches in Kolkata - against the West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9, and England on February 14 - before travelling to Mumbai to take on Nepal on February 17.
