T20 WC hosting rights in danger

Bangladesh face a steep challenge to maintain its right to host the ICC World Twenty20 next year as the International Cricket Council (ICC) will propose an alternate country for the competition at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in the United Kingdom later this month. Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan Papon made the sensational disclosure while talking to reporters at the end of an indoor cricket event yesterday.
The proposal, which the BCB will contest, has been raised due to issues with preparations for the mega event at the Sylhet Divisional Stadium.
“The ICC team that earlier came to Bangladesh to check the venues was not satisfied with the progress in the Sylhet Divisional stadium, which is one of the proposed venues,” said Papon.
“They visited the stadium twice in the last six months and did not see any development. So they are a bit worried about it being ready by September,” he added.
The president however was confident that Bangladesh would not lose its hosting rights, an honour conferred on the country four years ago. “We have to convince them that there is no need for an alternate venue and that we can do with whatever we have,” said Papon.
“The tender process regarding the Sylhet Stadium has been completed and the work has already started. I am confident that the ICC officials won't be disappointed on their next visit in August,” he added.
He also stated that the venue in Fatullah could be a possible replacement for Sylhet. “They (ICC) have kept the Fatullah stadium as a practice venue, but the facilities there are of international standard. If they consider that, we won't have to finish Sylhet in a hurry,” said Papon.
“The only question they will raise is the traffic congestion issue. In that case, we will take the support of the government and create a situation where they can commute faster,” he added.
He further stated that the ICC officials did not raise any objections regarding the upcoming stadium in Cox's Bazar which aims to host the women's T20 world cup at the same time.
Echoing the president's thoughts, BCB's acting CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury said, “The current situation is very alarming and we need to work faster, there is no other alternative.”
16 men's teams and eight women's teams will take part in the event which is scheduled to take place between March 16 to April 6 next year.
The other agenda on the table at the AGM will be the ICC Anti Corruption and Security Unit's (ACSU) report on match fixing in Bangladesh. “We will have a number of meetings regarding ACSU's report I am sure. We might have it within the AGM, or we might have it separately,” said Papon.
Apart from the above mentioned agendas the president will also aim to make progress in the 'tour of India' issue, which he described as one of his 'main objectives' in the meet. He also stated that the BCB election, which may be discussed during the meeting, was not an official agenda for the meet.