NEW DELHI: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) seems to have softened their stand on their demand to shift their T20 World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka after the International Cricket Council (ICC) stepped in to defuse the situation between the two boards, The Telegraph reported.
Bangladesh have refused to travel to India for next month's T20 World Cup and have requested the ICC to shift all their league matches to Sri Lanka, citing security concerns. The move comes after Kolkata Knight Riders released pacer Mustafizur Rahman ahead of the IPL at the behest of the BCCI.
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BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, while announcing the diktat to release Rahman, had merely stated that it was being done because of "developments all around", without explaining the specifics.
Bangladesh were scheduled to play three T20 World Cup matches in Kolkata and one in Mumbai. Drawn in Group C, the team was due to face the West Indies in their opening match at Eden Gardens in Kolkata and subsequently compete against defending champions England, Italy and Nepal.
The Indo-Bangladesh relationship has hit a rocky patch 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.
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Hindus have been targetted for violent attacks since Hasina's ouster.
ICC reaches out to BCB
Now, the ICC has reportedly stepped in to ease the tensions, reaching out to the BCB and asking it to reconsider its demand.
The report adds that the BCB has asked the ICC for time to respond to its request, stating that it will first consult with the country's government before taking a call.
It further adds that the ICC conducted multiple rounds of discussions with officials from both the BCCI and the BCB on Monday. In an effort to defuse the situation, the ICC is said to be open to making minor adjustments to Bangladesh's T20 World Cup schedule and has also assured enhanced security arrangements for the team during their stay in India.
"ICC will try to coax and convince Bangladesh to play in India. It's not just about the two teams, it also involves the spectators and fans, broadcasters, travelling media..." a veteran administrator associated with the ICC said.
The report suggests that although the ICC is prepared with a contingency plan, it would prefer the BCCI and the BCB to resolve the matter through direct dialogue.
It also adds that Bangladesh is unlikely to take a confrontational stance against the BCCI, given the Indian board's financial influence and the potential risk of significant losses if relations were to sour in the future.
"All boards realise that only matches against India will fill their coffers. So it's best to maintain a healthy relationship with the BCCI," said a source.
