BCB will ask ICC to relocate T20 World Cup games:Another nation turns hostile after Pakistan, Bangladesh cricket responds to Mustafizur Rahman’s IPL omission

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has been instructed by its sports ministry to seek shifting of the country’s T20 World Cup league games from India to Sri Lanka as there are “concerns about players’ safety” following Mustafizur Rahman’s release from the IPL on BCCI instructions. The Shah Rukh Khan co-owned IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) released the Bangladesh left-arm pacer, who was bought for Rs 9.20 crore after a bidding war at last month’s auctions in Abu Dhabi, following BCCI’s verdict. BCB president Saikia and former Bangladesh skipper Aminul Islam Bulbul refrained from making any public comment after an Emergency board meeting following the development. However, government advisor Asif Nazrul said he has instructed the Board to ask the Jay Shah-led ICC to shift Bangladesh’s four league games to Sri Lanka. Bangladesh government advisor instructs BCB for T20 WC venue relocation Nazrul wrote in Bengali on his Facebook page, “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. 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. The development has gone fierce after Mustafizur Rahman’s omission from the IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders. BCB even held an emergency meeting, resulting in three letter to the International Cricket Council (ICC). BCB adopts formal action against Mustafizur Rahman’s omission As per Cricbuzz’s top Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) source, “We are sending a letter to ICC putting three clauses into it. Firstly, we would like to know from them about Mustafizur (exclusion from IPL) and secondly, what is the security plan for us in the World Cup?” “More so because not only players will travel to India, but along with them media, fans and sponsors will also travel there to see the World Cup. Those who will go there, what will be their security status.” And it’s not just the ICC that BCB has written to. The cricket board also written to BCCI to know what prompted the board for quick action. The official said, “We are also sending an email to BCCI to know the exact picture of why Mustafizur was excluded.” Another hostile T20 World Cup participating nation after Pakistan India’s arch foe Pakistan already is already playing its World Cup games in Sri Lanka as per an understanding worked out months ago. Now, the Indo-Bangladesh cricket relations have strained over the ouster of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India in August last year due to 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 has been happening all around. Hindus have been targeted for violent attacks since Hasina’s ouster from the nation. BCCI official rubbishes demands of the Bangladesh board A BCCI source of PTI insisted that the T20 World Cup venue shift is next to impossible with just a month left for the tournament. The source said, “You can’t just change games at someone’s whims and fancies. It is a logistical nightmare. Think about opposition teams. Their air tickets and hotels are booked. Also, on all days, there are three games each, which means one game is in Sri Lanka. There is a broadcast crew. So it will be easier said than done.”