The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has decided not to send a team to India to participate in the upcoming T20 World Cup due to security concerns. Bangladesh wanted to play the World Cup in Sri Lanka instead of India. However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) did not agree to this.
As a result of Bangladesh's decision on security issues, the ICC finally gave Scotland a chance to play in the World Cup. When various discussions and criticisms started at home and abroad on the issue, the current BCB director and popular singer Asif Akbar explained the reason behind this decision.
In response to journalists' questions, the BCB director said, “He said that the government has taken the decision based on the intelligence report. The government had some of its own questions here. The government has taken this decision keeping in mind the security issues of our cricketers, journalists, spectators or related technical people who will go, and the incidents that are happening there. At the moment, if any sabotage incident occurs, it is not possible to take responsibility for it. This is the government's decision.”
He also said that the main reason for Bangladesh not going to the World Cup is the security threat. When BCB discusses with the government, the issue of security is the first thing that comes to mind. The cabinet has decided not to take any risks due to security. Many things can happen there. The ICC is an organization; the BCB is also an organization. But they are not a state. When a state talks about security, it takes a decision after considering all aspects.”
Asif Akbar said that after the government's concerns regarding security, the four ministries— information, foreign affairs, sports and la— sat together in the cabinet and reviewed the issue. Taking everything into consideration, it was decided that Bangladesh will not take this risk.
He also mentioned that this decision was taken with security as the highest priority. According to him, when the issue of people's lives and security is involved outside of sports, no compromise can be made.
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
