Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Aminul Islam Bulbul has said the International Cricket Council (ICC) has not instructed Bangladesh to travel to India for the upcoming World Cup, rejecting media reports suggesting otherwise.
Speaking in an interview on Wednesday, Bulbul described a report published by ESPNcricinfo as “baseless and false,” saying no such directive or penalty threat has been communicated by the ICC.
The BCB President said that the ICC never said that points would be deducted or Bangladesh would have to be given a walkover if the team did not go to India. Regular communication has been made with several ICC officials on a personal level. The ICC has not yet made any final decision on the matter.
Bulbul said, “The ICC has asked us why we will not go to India. We have already mentioned in our email that we have security concerns. Last night too, the ICC asked us for a full account of those security concerns.”
The BCB President further clarified that a detailed explanation of why Bangladesh cricketers are not safe on Indian soil and what are the specific reasons for the board's concerns will be sent to the ICC very soon. The ICC will take its next decision based on that explanation. Earlier, the news of a sudden decision being imposed is just a rumor.
A report by ESPNcricinfo spread widely on social media on Tuesday midnight. The report claimed that the ICC has rejected Bangladesh's demand and that India must be accepted as the venue for the World Cup.
When contacted to verify the authenticity of this news, several directors and CEOs of the BCB said that no such message has officially come from the ICC.
The BCB has stated that ensuring the safety of the players is their first priority and they are still concerned about the environment for playing cricket in the current situation in India.
As discussions with the ICC are ongoing, the BCB has urged people not to listen to any misleading news before a final decision is made.
Bd-pratidin English/TR
