ICC axes Bangladesh from T20 World Cup, drafts Scotland as replacement
ICC reportedly communicated its decision through a late-night Friday email to BCB chief Aminul Islam Bulbul
New Delhi, Jan 24: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially informed the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) that it has been replaced by Scotland in the upcoming T20 World Cup after they refused to travel to India, citing security concerns.
It is learnt that senior ICC officials, including chairman Jay Shah, were in Dubai on Friday and an email was sent late in the evening to BCB chairman Aminul Islam Bulbul, conveying the global body's decision
"An e-mail was sent last evening to Bangladesh Cricket Board chairman intimating him that his board didn't get back to ICC officially after the 24 hour deadline that was given to them to decide if they wanted to come to India, so a decision has been taken," an ICC source told the press, requesting anonymity.
"The BCB did a press conference in Dhaka before officially intimating the global body which is a violation of protocol. They have been categorically told that they are being replaced," the source added.
Bangladesh's Sports Ministry advisor Asif Nazrul advised against travelling to India, citing security issues despite being given repeated assurances by the ICC.
While Cricket Scotland has maintained that they haven't received any official confirmation but it seems that it is only a matter of time that they will be intimated.
Scotland will thus play their four group league games against West Indies (February 7), Italy (February 9) and England (February 14) in Kolkata followed by a game against Nepal in Mumbai on February 17.
The standoff between the BCB and the ICC stems from the Kolkata Knight Riders’ decision to release Mustafizur Rahman, despite selecting him for Rs 9.20 crore at the auction.
The BCB repeatedly wrote to the ICC seeking to avoid playing its T20 World Cup matches in India, which initially attempted to accommodate the concerns and even ordered an independent security assessment.
However, after the threat level was assessed as low to moderate, the ICC informed the BCB that the schedule would remain unchanged and that the team would have to travel to India.
PTI