T20 World Cup row escalates as Bangladesh denies visa to Indian ICC official
PTC News Desk: The final round of his-stakes negotiations between the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) were marred by unprecedented after what was meant to be a two-man delegation, eventually halved due to visa complication.
A two-man delegation comprising Andrew Ephgrave, the ICC’s Head of Anti-Corruption and Security and Sanjog Gupta, senior ICC chief executive officer was supposed to land at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, but instead only Ephgrave walked through the arrivals gate. Reportedly, his colleague failed to secure visa on time.
The trip is being seen as a “final attempt” by the sport’s global governing body to defuse a diplomatic and sporting standoff that has overshadowed the tournament, set to start on 7 February.
At the centre of the conflict is a security issue flagged by the Bangladesh government and the BCB. Bangladesh has officially asked the international cricket board to relocate their group-stage fixtures from India to Sri Lanka, citing the ongoing political tensions and the need to ensure the safety of their players and support staff.
With his colleague unable to join, the responsibility for the talks now lies entirely with Ephgrave. A former British police officer with significant expertise in global sports security, Ephgrave is expected to present a detailed security blueprint aimed at assuring Bangladeshi officials that their team will receive adequate protection while playing in India during the T20 World Cup.
- With inputs from agencies
