In an effort to address the ongoing deadlock regarding Bangladesh’s participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup, the International Cricket Council (ICC) will be sending a delegation to Bangladesh for face-to-face talks before the tournament set to take place in India and Sri Lanka from February 7. Sources from the ICC have confirmed that the delegation’s visit is crucial, as previous attempts to resolve the issue through virtual means have not been successful.
The ICC delegation is expected to have a final one-on-one meeting with officials from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to discuss the T20 World Cup, with a decision to follow the discussions. This move comes after the BCB and the sports ministry of Bangladesh took a firm stance against playing matches in India, triggered by the BCCI’s request to remove Bangladeshi player Mustafizur Rehman from the KKR IPL squad.
Youth and Sports Adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government, Asif Nazrul, disclosed the upcoming ICC visit during a statement to the media. Nazrul emphasized that Bangladesh remains resolute in its position and expressed eagerness to participate in the World Cup, particularly in Sri Lanka. The ICC had previously engaged in a video conference with the BCB, where discussions revolved around Bangladesh’s involvement in the tournament and the BCB’s request for match relocation.
Bangladesh is currently slated to play three matches in India before shifting to Mumbai for further games. The matches are scheduled against the West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9, and England on February 14 in Kolkata, followed by a game against Nepal on February 17 in Mumbai.
