ICC replaces Bangladesh with Scotland at T20 World Cup over security stalemate
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The International Cricket Council has replaced Bangladesh with Scotland for the upcoming T20 World Cup because of an impasse over security concerns that Bangladesh raised about playing in India.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board wanted to have its games shifted from India to Sri Lanka due to security concerns, but the sport’s governing body refused to make changes so close to the start of the tournament.
The ICC said in a statement Saturday it rejected Bangladesh’s demand because there was no “credible or verifiable security threat to the Bangladesh national team in India” for the month-long tournament that starts Feb. 7.
“In light of these findings, and after careful consideration of the broader implications, the ICC determined that it was not appropriate to amend the published event schedule,” it said.
The ICC said the BCB didn’t respond to a request to confirm its participation at the World Cup.
“As no confirmation was received within the stipulated deadline, the ICC proceeded in line with its established governance and qualification processes to identify a replacement team,” the ICC said.
The sides had met several times over the last three weeks, both via video conference and in-person, during which the ICC shared all the security protocols.
Scotland is the highest-ranked T20 team not to qualify for the tournament.
The BCB had repeatedly said it was its government’s decision not to send the cricket team to India, where it was scheduled to play three Group C games in Kolkata and the last one in Mumbai.
Strained political relations between the countries led to Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman’s removal from the Indian Premier League by order of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
The BCB then asked the ICC to shift its World Cup games to Sri Lanka.
“The security threat is not a theory, it is a real incident,” Bangladesh sports adviser Asif Nazrul said after the recent meeting with some national team players and BCB officials. “The BCCI bowed down to pressure from fundamental groups, and kicked him (Mustafizur) out of their tournament.”
Nazrul claimed the ICC couldn’t convince Bangladesh that its team would be safe in India and “only talked about the standard security plan, rather than address our specific grievance.”
Pakistan backs Bangladesh
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi criticized the ICC for its “double standards” by not shifting Bangladesh’s games to Sri Lanka.
Pakistan has not yet announced its squad for the tournament and Naqvi said a final decision on the team’s participation will be made after talking to his government.
“Our stance (on World Cup participation) will be what the government of Pakistan instructs me,” he said. “The prime minister is not in Pakistan right now. When he returns, I’ll be able to give you our final decision. It’s the government’s decision. We obey them, not the ICC.”
Naqvi said ICC did an injustice to Bangladesh.
“You can’t have double standards. You can’t say for one country (India) they can do whatever they want and for the others to have to do the complete opposite,” he said. “That’s why we’ve taken this stand, and made clear Bangladesh have had an injustice done to them. They should play in the World Cup, they are a major stakeholder in cricket.”
Naqvi said if his government said that Pakistan should not play at the World Cup, “then maybe the ICC will bring in a 22nd team (after Scotland). It’s up to the government.”
Pakistan plays all its games in Sri Lanka after it was decided before last year’s Champions Trophy — hosted by Pakistan — that both countries will play at a neutral venue in case it hosts any major tournament until 2027.
Pakistan is scheduled to host Australia in a three-match T20 series next week before both teams are scheduled to fly out to Colombo.
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