To resolve the matter, ICC Chairman Jay Shah is set to hold an urgent meeting with officials from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Sunday, according to NDTV.
The tension began with the exclusion of Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL. Under pressure from Indian political and religious groups, the BCCI instructed Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Mustafizur.
In protest, the Bangladesh government suspended IPL broadcasts in the country, and the BCB cited security concerns to refuse participation in India for the World Cup.
The BCB is making every effort to move the World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka. In a detailed email to the ICC on Thursday, the board highlighted the security risks for Bangladeshi players in India.
For ICC Chairman Jay Shah, this presents a major challenge. During Sunday’s meeting with BCCI officials, he will review the tournament’s current security arrangements and examine why the BCB remains unconvinced. The meeting will also address why previous assurances from the ICC failed to satisfy the BCB.
With just a month left until the World Cup, Bangladesh is scheduled to begin its campaign on 7 February against the West Indies in Kolkata. Group-stage matches against England and Italy are also set in Kolkata, with the final match in Mumbai.
From the outset, the BCB has demanded venue changes. While the ICC had previously assured action regarding BCB’s concerns, a final solution has yet to be reached.
