DHAKA: Bangladesh has firmly positioned itself with the right to demand players’ safety and the country’s honour and consequently, has announced its non-participation in the coming Cricket World Cup in India unless its security fears are dealt with.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has made it clear that it would be willing to shift the venue to Sri Lanka for the World Cup matches provided the Indian situation remains uncertain.
During a press meet in Dhaka, Dr. Asif Nazir, the sports advisor of the Bangladesh government, said that the safety of the players along with the goodwill of the country would be the first concern. “We are really fond of cricket and we have been able to qualify for the World Cup. However, we can’t put the players’ safety at risk and at the same time we won’t allow our national honor to be compromised,” said Dr. Nazir.
He also hoped that the International Cricket Council (ICC) would get to know Bangladesh’s situation and would go on to put the security issues flagged by the country on the agenda. “We hope the ICC will hear us fairly and also give importance to our worries,” he added.
Dr. Nazir’s remarks came after news that BCB had not been given sufficient safety assurances by the Indian authorities relating to Bangladeshi players during the tournament. He referred to a recent episode wherein the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) team informed Bangladesh’s player, Mustafizur Rahman, that they would not be able to guarantee his security.
Dr. Nazir characterized the matter as a significant one and the BCB, considering the situation as one of their major concerns, has now addressed their letter to the ICC calling for a review of the security situation in the Indian venues.
In a related remark, BCB President Nazmul Hassan Amin placed greater emphasis on the need for any government to approve foreign tours. “We will maintain our position if the security conditions do not get better; Sri Lanka is one more option, and we are ready to play there,” proclaimed Amin. He dismissed every claim that the ICC ever hinted at a playing ban in Sri Lanka and referred to such news as “propaganda.”
Additionally, the BCB President recalled similar situations from the past, notably in the 2016 Champions Trophy when India and Pakistan also didn’t play in each other’s countries due to fear of a terrorist attack. “We hope the ICC will come up with a suitable solution,” Amin stated. “The World Cup is important but security is the most important thing and we will not change our position.”
The scenario raised reveals the problem of hosting sports in places that are politically unstable or have security issues. As the World Cup is approaching, the ICC and Bangladesh’s position around it are shifting the focus now.
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