'No change in stance about playing in India' - Bangladesh govt's sports advisor

 

Asif Nazrul, the Bangladesh government's sports advisor, on Tuesday again indicated that they are not ready to change their stance as far as playing the ICC Twenty20 World Cup in India is concerned.

Asif also brushed aside speculation that Scotland might replace them in the showpiece event if Bangladesh opts out, as they are refusing to play in India citing security concerns, and have asked the ICC to shift their matches to co-host Sri Lanka.

Over the weekend, the BCB held talks with ICC officials in Dhaka over the impasse, but no agreement was reached as the BCB requested the ICC to change their venue after the BCCI directed IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur Rahman from their squad amid prevailing political tensions between the two countries.

It is understood that the ICC has set January 21 as the deadline to resolve the matter, as they are running out of time. If they have to replace Bangladesh with Scotland, who are the highest-ranked team that did not qualify for the World Cup, they would need to give them at least 15 days to prepare.

Bangladesh wanted to swap their group, but Ireland insisted they were not ready to agree to such a proposal.

"I am not aware that Scotland will be included in our place (in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup)," Asif told reporters on Tuesday. "If the ICC bows to pressure from the Indian Cricket Board and tries to impose pressure on us by setting unreasonable conditions, we will not accept those conditions," he said.

"In the past there are examples that Pakistan said that they will not travel to India and ICC changed the venue," he said.

"We have asked to change the venue on logical ground and we cannot be pressurized to play in India by putting illogical pressure," he added.