Mustafizur Rahman row: Chennai, Trivandrum considered as alternate venues for Bangladesh? BCCI responds | Cricket News

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the Board of Control for Cricket in India has not received any communication from the International Cricket Council (ICC) on reports suggesting a change of venue for Bangladesh’s matches in the T20 World Cup. He said the issue is between the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the ICC.India and Sri Lanka are scheduled to co-host the T20 World Cup from February 7. The Bangladesh Cricket Board had written to the ICC requesting that its matches be moved to Sri Lanka, citing “security concerns” due to tensions between the two countries. The BCB also said it had received a response from the ICC, which assured them that the matter would be examined.The BCB’s apprehensions followed the release of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on the instructions of the BCCI for unspecified reasons, amid reports of attacks on minorities in Bangladesh.Meanwhile, some reports suggested that the ICC is looking at alternative venues for Bangladesh’s matches. It was reported that Bangladesh is unlikely to play in Sri Lanka, which was its preferred option, and that Chennai and Trivandrum are being considered instead of the originally scheduled venues of Kolkata and Mumbai.However, Saikia said the BCCI has not been informed of any such development.“The BCCI has not received any communication regarding the matter of shifting Bangladesh matches to Chennai or anywhere else, and it is beyond our control. It is a matter of communication between the BCB and the ICC, as the ICC is the governing body. If the ICC conveys any decision to us regarding a change of venue, the BCCI, as the host, will take the necessary steps. At present, we are not privy to any such information,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia was quoted as saying by news agency IANS.As per the existing schedule, Bangladesh are set to play three matches in Kolkata — against West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9, and England on February 14. They are then scheduled to play Nepal in Mumbai on February 17.