The International Cricket Council (ICC) is reportedly open to moving Bangladesh cricket team’s matches to Sri Lanka following the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB)’s decision to not travel to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Earlier today, the BCB requested the ICC to shift the Bangladesh cricket team’s matches from India to Sri Lanka, citing Mustafizur Rahman’s release from his IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
“If they have said they cannot provide security to one of our players, how will they ensure the security of our entire team? That is why we will not go there to play,” BCB director Khaled Mashud Pilot said.
Mashud said that the BCB has sent a letter to the ICC requesting that the Bangladesh team’s matches be moved from India to Sri Lanka.
Bangladeshi cricket team not to travel to India for T20 World Cup matches over Mustafizur Rahman’s release from KKR
According to a report by Cricbuzz, the ICC is not averse to the idea of moving Bangladesh team’s matches to Sri Lanka. However, this will require tinkering with the schedule, which may take a couple of days.
The Bangaldesh team was scheduled to play four matches in India – three in Kolkata and one in Mumbai.
The development comes a day after the BCCI directed KKR to release Rahman amid rising incidents of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh.
“Due to the recent developments that are going on all across, BCCI has instructed the franchise KKR to release one of their players, Mustafizur Rahman of Bangladesh, from their squad. If KKR asks for any replacement, BCCI is going to allow that replacement,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said.
Later, KKR also confirmed the development, saying that they will abide by the BCCI’s directive.
Rahman was bought by KKR, co-owned by Bollywood actors Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla, for a whopping Rs 9.20 crore during last month’s auction in Abu Dhabi.
However, amid the ongoing incidents of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, several right-wing groups, including religious leaders, had objected to his inclusion in the IPL.