NEW DELHI: The Bangladesh Cricket Board has been directed by the country's sports ministry to formally request a change in venue for Bangladesh's T20 World Cup group-stage matches, citing player safety concerns in the wake of Mustafizur Rahman's exit from the IPL.
The move comes after the left-arm pacer was released by Kolkata Knight Riders, the Shah Rukh Khan co-owned franchise, despite being snapped up for Rs 9.20 crore following an intense bidding battle at the Abu Dhabi auction. The decision was taken after the BCCI reportedly advised IPL franchises not to include Bangladeshi players.
KKR responds to BCCI directive to release Mustafizur Rahman - here's what they said
Following the development, the BCB convened an emergency meeting. Board president Aminul Islam Bulbul, a former Bangladesh captain, chose not to issue any public statement after the discussions.
Meanwhile, senior government advisor Asif Nazrul confirmed that he has asked the BCB to approach the ICC, headed by Jay Shah, with a request to relocate Bangladesh's four league fixtures in the T20 World Cup - three scheduled in Kolkata and one in Mumbai - to Sri Lanka, amid growing apprehensions over the team's security.
"As the adviser in charge of the Ministry of Sports, I have instructed the Cricket Control Board to put the entire matter in writing and explain it to the ICC," Nazrul wrote in Bengali on his Facebook page.
"The board must make it clear that if a Bangladeshi cricketer, despite being under contract, cannot play in India, then the Bangladesh national team cannot feel safe travelling to India to play the World Cup.
"I have also directed the board to formally request that Bangladesh's World Cup matches be held in Sri Lanka instead," he further wrote.
Bangladesh are scheduled to play four league matches in the tournament, beginning with clashes against West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9 and England on February 14 in Kolkata. Their group-stage campaign will conclude with a final fixture against Nepal on February 17 in Mumbai.
However, a senior BCCI official has played down the possibility of any venue change, maintaining that relocating matches at this stage is virtually unfeasible, with barely a month remaining before the tournament gets underway.
"You can't just change games at someone's whims and fancies. It is a logistical nightmare. Think about opposition teams. Their air tickets, hotels are booked.
"Also on all days there are three games each which means one game is in Sri Lanka. There is broadcast crew. So it will be easier said than done," the BCCI source said.
India's arch foe Pakistan already is already playing its World Cup game sin Sri Lanka as per an understanding worked out months ago.
The Indo-Bangladesh relationship has plunged into chaos after the ouster of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India in August last year following anti-government protests.
She was sentenced to death in absentia by a tribunal for her alleged role in a deadly crackdown during the agitation in which several students were killed.
Although the BCCI did not explicitly cite the current political situation for its decision to seek Rahman's release, it did say that the move was triggered by what's been happening all around.
Hindus have been targetted for violent attacks since Hasina's ouster.
IPL broadcast to be suspended in Bangladesh?
Nazrul also said that he has requested the adviser for Bangladesh's Information and Broadcasting Ministry (I&B) to ensure that broadcast of IPL in Bangladesh is suspended.
"I have requested the adviser for Information and Broadcasting to ensure that the broadcast of the IPL in Bangladesh is also suspended.
"Under no circumstances will we tolerate any insult to Bangladeshi cricket, cricketers, or Bangladesh itself. The days of servitude are over," he said.
There is a bit of disbelief in the BCB corridors that things took such a turn after India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar attended former PM Khaleda Zia's funeral in Dhaka.
"The BCB announced the schedule for India's tour of Bangladesh because there was a sense of positivity but now we need to get an official confirmation from the Indian board as to why Mustafizur's contract was cancelled," a BCB source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
"Till now BCCI hasn't communicated anything to BCB officially. Only after official communication will BCB decide further course of action," the source said.
(With PTI Inputs)
