Bhubaneswar: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has offered to host all of Bangladesh’s matches in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) raised security concerns about playing in India.
According to a PCB source quoted by PTI, the Pakistan board conveyed through an email that Bangladesh’s concerns were justified and should be accommodated. The source added that if shifting Bangladesh’s matches to Sri Lanka posed logistical challenges, Pakistan was prepared to host all of their games. The PCB, however, has not issued any official public statement on the matter.
As per the original tournament schedule, Bangladesh is slated to play all four of its group-stage matches in India, with three matches scheduled in Kolkata and the final group match in Mumbai.
The issue was discussed during an ICC Board meeting held via video conference on Wednesday. Following the meeting, the International Cricket Council (ICC) granted the BCB an additional 24 hours to decide whether it would send its team to India for the tournament. The ICC reportedly rejected Bangladesh’s request to move its matches to Sri Lanka and reiterated that the event should proceed as per the announced schedule.
Despite this, the BCB has maintained that it is unable to send its team to India, citing security concerns. The matter escalated after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) asked IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman, citing “recent developments.” Subsequently, the Bangladesh government banned the broadcast of the Indian Premier League in the country.
Following these developments, the BCB formally informed the ICC of its position that it would not participate in World Cup matches scheduled to be held in India.
Discussions between the ICC and the concerned cricket boards are ongoing as the deadline for Bangladesh’s final decision approaches.
-OdishaAge
