NEW DELHI: The Mohsin Naqvi-led Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has come out in support of the Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) demand to shift their T20 World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka and said it would raise the matter with the ICC if the need arises.
Weighing in on the issue, former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi said the ICC must function as a truly global governing body and should not allow any single nation to exert undue influence in such matters.
Afridi also called on the ICC to explore alternative venues for Bangladesh's matches, stressing that such a move would help ensure fairness and provide a comfortable environment for all teams involved.
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ICC willing to work with us: BCB
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Wednesday said the ICC is "willing to work closely" with it to address "security concerns" around the team's participation in the T20 World Cup in India even though its demand for a change of venue has not yet been accepted.
The T20 World Cup starts on February 7 and Bangladesh are due to play their four games in Kolkata and Mumbai.
"The Bangladesh Cricket Board has received a response from the ICC regarding the Board's expressed concerns over the safety and security of the Bangladesh National Cricket Team in India for the ICC T20 World Cup, including the request for relocation of the team's matches," the BCB said in a statement.
"In its communication, the ICC has reiterated its commitment to ensuring the full and uninterrupted participation of the Bangladesh team in the tournament.
"The ICC has conveyed its willingness to work closely with the BCB to address the concerns raised and has assured that the Board's inputs will be welcomed and duly considered as part of the detailed security planning for the event," it added.
