B’desh turmoil may shift World T20 to India
25 Dec 2013 6:43 AM IST
The ongoing political turmoil in Dhaka has given rise to widespread speculations that the upcoming ICC World T20, scheduled to be held in Bangladesh in March 2014, could be shifted to India. The rumour gathered wind after the West Indies Cricket Board withdrew its U-19 team from its ongoing tour following an explosion near the team hotel in Chittagong on 8 December.
On Tuesday, three more persons were killed and a court complex was targeted with crude bombs as an 83-hour nationwide blockade by opposition parties demanding a caretaker poll-time regime entered its fourth day.
ICC’s biggest event of 2014 is scheduled to be held across three venues in Bangladesh namely Mirpur, Chittagong and Sylhet. As per reports, Eden Gardens in Kolkata and Jharkhand State Cricket Association stadium in Ranchi have been kept on stand-by. A decision on whether to shift base or retain Bangladesh as hosts is expected to be taken soon when Asian Cricket Council and the organisers of the tournament meet in Dhaka. The present security concerns, coupled with Pakistan’s threat to pull out if Bangladesh hosts the event, could push ICC to move the tournament to India. The tournament starts with the qualifiers leg from 16 March while the main event will begin on 21 March.
Meanwhile, the 18-party opposition alliance has been enforcing nationwide blockades since 26 November to push for the postponement of polls.
On Tuesday, three more persons were killed and a court complex was targeted with crude bombs as an 83-hour nationwide blockade by opposition parties demanding a caretaker poll-time regime entered its fourth day.
ICC’s biggest event of 2014 is scheduled to be held across three venues in Bangladesh namely Mirpur, Chittagong and Sylhet. As per reports, Eden Gardens in Kolkata and Jharkhand State Cricket Association stadium in Ranchi have been kept on stand-by. A decision on whether to shift base or retain Bangladesh as hosts is expected to be taken soon when Asian Cricket Council and the organisers of the tournament meet in Dhaka. The present security concerns, coupled with Pakistan’s threat to pull out if Bangladesh hosts the event, could push ICC to move the tournament to India. The tournament starts with the qualifiers leg from 16 March while the main event will begin on 21 March.
Meanwhile, the 18-party opposition alliance has been enforcing nationwide blockades since 26 November to push for the postponement of polls.
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