BCB says ICC willing to work to address security concerns of team playing in India

Dhaka: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) stated on Wednesday that the ICC is "willing to work closely" with it to resolve "security concerns" about the team's participation in the T20 World Cup in India, despite the fact that its request for a change of venue has not yet been granted. The T20 World Cup begins on February 7, with Bangladesh scheduled to play four games in Kolkata and Mumbai.

"In its communication, the ICC has reiterated its commitment to ensuring the full and uninterrupted participation of the Bangladesh team in the tournament," the BCB said in a statement.

"The ICC has conveyed its willingness to work closely with the BCB to address the concerns raised and has assured that the Board's inputs will be welcomed and duly considered as part of the detailed security planning for the event," it added.

BCB president Aminul Islam and government Asif Nazrul addressed a press conference after the board issued the statement on the sensitive subject.

Both reiterated their stance on why they are not comfortable with the team's travel to India. Azrul was more vocal than BCB president Aminul.

"So far, we have very clearly taken this decision that we will make the ICC understand that we do not have an environment suitable for playing in India. This will be conveyed tonight or by tomorrow morning, PTI reported.

"With those sufficiently strong arguments, we will make the ICC understand that the core principle of our stand is that on the questions of Bangladesh's security, Bangladesh's honour, and Bangladesh's dignity, we will not compromise. But we definitely want to play the Cricket World Cup," said Nazrul.

Aminul cited the arrangement between India and Pakistan under which the arch-rivals play their ICC matches in a third country. With security for his players being a major concern for Aminul, he argued that the same should be done for the games involving Bangladesh.

"When the Champions Trophy was held, India did not go to Pakistan, and Pakistan also did not come to India to play in the last World Cup. So we are also hopeful that we will get a proper response (from the ICC).

"...you know that the hybrid World Cup that is happening, the main reason behind that is security. So we are hopeful that we will be able to establish the reasons we have," added the BCB president.

Hostilities shot up between India and Bangladesh following Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman's ouster from the IPL on the BCCI's instructions.

The Indian Board did not give a clear reason for the decision but it was largely attributed to the deepening diplomatic tensions between the two neighbours in the wake of attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh.

The BCCI's action prompted a livid BCB to demand that its four World Cup matches in India be shifted to co-host Sri Lanka in a written submission to the ICC.

The ICC has not yet issued a public response to the BCB on this subject and a planned meeting between the two bodies on Tuesday also could not take place.

In the statement, the BCB said it will continue the "constructive engagement" with the ICC and relevant event authorities in a "cooperative and professional manner".

The Board also stated that it was confident of "an affable and practical solution" for the "smooth and successful" participation of the team in the T20 World Cup.

Drawn in Group C, the team is scheduled to face the West Indies in their opening match at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata and subsequently compete against defending champions England, Italy and Nepal.