BCCI firmly responds as Bangladesh seeks T20 World Cup matches venue shift over Mustafizur Rahman’s IPL exit row: Report

The sports ministry in Bangladesh has asked the Bangladesh Cricket Board to seek a shift of its T20 World Cup league matches from India to Sri Lanka, citing concerns about player safety after the release of Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL on instructions from the BCCI.

The Kolkata Knight Riders, co-owned by Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, have complied with the BCCI’s directive, releasing the Bangladesh left-arm pacer who had been acquired for INR 9.20 crore after an intense bidding war last month in Abu Dhabi. After an emergency board meeting, BCB president and former Bangladesh captain Aminul Islam Bulbul refused to make any public comment on the issue.

Government advisor Asif Nazrul has confirmed that he has instructed the board to approach the ICC, headed by Jay Shah, to relocate Bangladesh’s four league fixtures – three in Kolkata and one in Mumbai – to Sri Lanka. The schedule has them playing West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9, and England on February 14 in Kolkata, before the final group match against Nepal on February 17 in Mumbai.

Following this, PTI quoted a BCCI source which mentioned that shifting matches is a logistical nightmare and this will also prove to be very chaotic for the opposition teams.

“You can’t just change games at someone’s whims and fancies. It is a logistical nightmare. Think about opposition teams. Their air tickets, hotels are booked.

“Also on all days there are three games each which means one game is in Sri Lanka. There is broadcast crew. So it will be easier said than done,” the BCCI source said.