Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Aminul Islam Bulbul has made it clear that the board is still waiting for a formal response from the ICC regarding its reservations about playing in India during the upcoming T20 World Cup. The tournament, set to begin on February 7, has Bangladesh scheduled to play most of its group games in Indian cities, but the BCB has requested that their matches be shifted to co-host Sri Lanka due to security-related concerns.
Bulbul said the board has already submitted all relevant documents and evidence to the ICC but has not heard back yet. He reiterated that Bangladesh’s stance has not changed and that merely shifting games from one Indian city to another would not solve the problem.
According to him, even if venues are changed within India, it does not address the core issue. He also stressed that the board has to operate in line with government directives and cannot take independent decisions in such matters. For now, Bangladesh will wait for the ICC’s official communication before deciding on the next course of action.
Bangladesh are currently slated to play three of their group matches in Kolkata and one in Mumbai. Bulbul also dismissed speculation about Hyderabad and Chennai being considered as alternative venues, saying he has not received any such information and might learn more in the coming days.
Despite the uncertainty, Bulbul sounded confident about Bangladesh’s on-field prospects. He said the team has proved its ability on big occasions, recalling their strong performances in past ICC events, and believes they are especially well suited to sub-continental conditions.
The BCB chief also addressed the recent controversy involving former captain Tamim Iqbal, who was labelled a “traitor” by a board director. Bulbul clarified that it was a personal opinion and confirmed that he has asked the concerned official to explain his remarks. He added that Tamim’s contributions to Bangladesh cricket deserve respect.
Looking back on his time at the helm, Bulbul described his tenure as a learning phase for the board, filled with both challenges and progress, but maintained that the interests of the country must always come first.