At the meeting with the ICC representatives in Dhaka on Saturday, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) officials asked the world body to put them in a different group in the T20 World Cup.
The proposal is for a swap that would allow Bangladesh to play their matches in Sri Lanka. Grapevine has it that the BCB has asked the ICC to place Bangladesh in Group B and Ireland in Group C. The Group B matches will be played in Sri Lanka. However, it is learnt Ireland have received assurances from the ICC that they won’t be forced to change the group.
At the meeting today, the BCB stuck to its stand of Bangladesh not playing their group league matches in India — three in Kolkata and one in Mumbai — a plea they made in its first letter to the ICC on the heels of Mustafizur Rahman’s removal from the IPL. Later, the BCB issued a press release, stating: “Among other points, the possibility of moving Bangladesh to a different group as a means of facilitating the matter with minimum logistical adjustments was discussed.”
It added: “During the discussions, the BCB reiterated its formal request to the ICC to relocate Bangladesh’s matches to Sri Lanka. The Board also shared the Bangladesh Government’s views and concerns on safety and security of the team, Bangladeshi fans, media and other stakeholders.”
At this moment though, a group swap, like a revised schedule, appears unlikely. The T20 World Cup starts on February 7.
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