Asif Nazrul Criticizes ICC Oversight on Tournament Security
The advisor emphasized that the current venue allocation fails to account for the proximity of high-traffic zones and recent infrastructure updates in Dhaka and Chattogram. He believes the ICC moved certain matches based on outdated data, which undermines the fan experience and the safety of the athletes.
Nazrul intends to present a 25-page dossier highlighting the specific improvements made to local stadiums over the last 12 months. Recent government figures show a 20% increase in sports infrastructure spending, a fact he claims the ICC ignored during their last inspection.
Officials from the BCB support this stance, noting that hosting matches in under-equipped secondary venues creates unnecessary risks. Nazrul highlighted that moving the games away from established hubs complicates transportation for the thousands of international fans expected to arrive. He maintains that the “gravity of the situation” requires an immediate secondary review from the ICC technical committee. Without these changes, the advisor suggests that the local organizing committee may face insurmountable pressure during the peak of the tournament.
Negotiations for Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup Hosting Rights
Current discussions between the Bangladesh interim government and cricket’s governing body remain tense as the tournament schedule nears its final lock-in date. According to ESPNcricinfo, the ICC previously cited “operational readiness” as the primary reason for shifting certain high-profile matches out of Dhaka.
However, Nazrul argues that these assessments were conducted during a period of political transition and do not reflect the current stable environment.
“We will try our best to convince the ICC that our venues are not just ready, but superior,” Nazrul stated to reporters. He plans to travel to the ICC headquarters later this month to meet with top executives face-to-face.
The sports ministry aims to reclaim at least three major group-stage matches that were originally slated for relocation. Local cricket fans have already started social media campaigns to support the advisor’s efforts, hoping to see the world’s best players compete on home soil. As the clock ticks down toward the opening ceremony, the outcome of this high-stakes negotiation remains the top story in Asian sports.
Game on! Track the buzz in football, tennis, Cricket, and more in PanAsiaBiz's Sports section.
From pitch to court and ring to track, PanAsiaBiz brings the action closer.
