We want to play T20 WC but not in India: Bulbul

Dhaka, 22 Jan  - Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Aminul Islam Bulbul reiterated the government’s stance on refusing to play the upcoming T20 World Cup in India, insisting that Bangladesh remains firm on its position.

Bulbul’s comments came a day after the International Cricket Council (ICC) rejected Bangladesh’s request to relocate their matches to Sri Lanka.

“We are still fighting. Our only demand is to play the World Cup — but not in India,” Bulbul said today. “We want to play in Sri Lanka or another neutral venue. Our team is ready.”

Bulbul said he would contact the ICC later today to further explain why playing in India is not possible.

“We are trying our best to play the World Cup but not in India because the security situation there has not changed. We will try to make the ICC understand our position today,” he said.

Bulbul also said that the ICC could lose a massive audience if Bangladesh does not participate in the tournament.

“We feel proud of our cricket, but we have doubts about world cricket. When the popularity of cricket was declining, we believed the ICC would take decisions that would not result in losing 20 crore people from watching the game,” he said.

“We believed that one fine morning we would hear that the ICC had accepted our request and give us the opportunity to play in Sri Lanka. But that did not happen. Instead, we were given an ultimatum. Still, we will try our best.”BSS