NEW DELHI: The International Cricket Council on Monday signaled that it is unlikely to agree to Bangladesh’s request for a change of venue for its T20 World Cup matches in India. This comes after a security assessment report rated the overall threat perception as “low”.

As per ICC sources, the global body’s risk assessment has not flagged any specific or direct threat to the Bangladesh team if it takes part in the tournament which begins on February 7.

The report also contradicts claims made by Bangladesh sports ministry advisor Asif Nazrul that the inclusion of Mustafizur Rahman would add to the overall security threat. Bangladesh are scheduled to play four league stage matches in India.

“It is important to clarify that the ICC’s independent risk assessments, carried out by internationally recognized security experts, do not conclude that Bangladesh cannot play its scheduled matches in India,” an ICC source told PTI on condition of anonymity.

“The overall security risk for the tournament in India has been assessed as low to moderate, which is consistent with the profile of many major global sporting events,” the source said.

ICC assessment contradicts Bangladesh claims

According to the ICC source, the assessment did not point to any direct threat even to Bangladesh team officials at venues in India.

“Based on the professional advice received, the risk associated with Bangladesh’s scheduled fixtures in Kolkata and Mumbai is assessed as low to moderate, with no indication of risks that cannot be effectively managed through established security planning and mitigation measures,” the source added.

This development follows public remarks by Nazrul in Dhaka where he suggested that the ICC report had flagged a threat to Mustafizur. That claim came after the pacer was omitted from the IPL on BCCI’s directions citing unspecified “developments all around”, which in turn prompted the Bangladesh Cricket Board to consider pulling out.

BCB clarification but demand remains

The BCB later issued a clarification, effectively stepping back from the claims made by Nazrul earlier.

“The correspondence cited today by the Advisor for the Ministry of Youth & Sports was in reference to an internal communication between the BCB and the ICC’s Security Department to threat assessments for the Bangladesh team ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

“This does not constitute a formal response from the ICC to the BCB’s request for the relocation of Bangladesh’s matches outside India,” the BCB said in a statement.

The board however reiterated that it has formally asked for Bangladesh’s matches to be moved out of India “in the interest of the team’s security” and said it is still waiting for an official reply from the ICC.

Despite this, the ICC source maintained that the current schedule is unlikely to be changed.

“The ICC has full confidence in the security arrangements being developed in close collaboration with the BCCI and relevant local authorities, who have a strong and proven track record of safely delivering major international sporting events,” the source said.

The ICC also underlined that security planning remains an ongoing process.

“Participating members, including the Bangladesh Cricket Board, are being consulted as part of this process, and the ICC remains open to constructive dialogue and feedback to further strengthen arrangements where appropriate,” the source added.

Following Mustafizur’s removal from the Kolkata Knight Riders squad, the Bangladesh government had also banned the broadcast of the IPL in the country.

However, former captain Tamim Iqbal and current Test skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto have urged caution. Tamim warned that decisions taken now could have consequences even a decade later.

Shanto has also spoken about the mental stress players are facing at the prospect of missing out on a World Cup. Nazrul though has continued to take a firm stance, repeatedly stating that Bangladesh will not back down from its demand.

(With PTI Inputs)