The countdown for the ICC World Twenty20 2014 began with the unveiling of the trophy and the logo in two separate programmes in Dhaka on Saturday, exactly one year before the tournament kicks off.
National skipper Mushfiqur Rahim along with a member of the women’s cricket team Sathira Jessy unveiled the trophy in presence of ICC vice-president AHM Mustafa Kamal and Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hasan at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
The tournament will be played from March 16 to April 6, 2014 at different venues across the country and will be participated by 16 men’s teams and eight women’s teams.
‘It is actually a great pride for us that we are hosting the 2014 World Cup,’ BCB president Nazmul told reporters after the trophy unveiling ceremony.
‘I think the entire world will see what passion this cricket loving country holds for the game.
‘I have been receiving calls from all parts of the country as to why we are launching the logo only in Dhaka. Everybody is waiting and we are waiting anxiously for it to start,’ he said.
ICC vice-president AHM Mustafa Kamal was confident that the event would not face any difficulty despite the continued political turbulence in the country that has hugely affected the mass people from peacefully leading their day-to-day life.
‘All of us are aware of the fact at this point in time that there are some problems in our daily life. If you look at the political culture of Bangladesh you will see that when the election year nears, these kinds of things happen,’ said Kamal.
‘In the past this happened and subsided later and this time we also have an one-year time. We are very positive that things will be okay by the time the event takes place and nothing will be heard of this sort. Everything had been planned much ahead of time,’ Kamal said.
‘During the last Asia Cup all the leaders from the opposition and the government were present at the stadium. It says that they know how significant this event is for this country. I am sure for the greater cause all the political parties will be making sacrifices.’
His successor at the BCB, Nazmul echoed the same views and believed that the people of the country irrespective of their political beliefs will cooperate to successfully complete the mission.
Nazmul was encouraged by a unique gesture shown by the opposition in the just-concluded Bangladesh Premier League.
‘During the BPL there was a hartal (strike) called by the opposition but as we had a match of the tournament they withdrew the hartal which was a unique example in the history of Bangladesh.
‘I am saying that regardless of any party affiliation the entire country loves cricket and there won’t be any sort of disturbances during the World Twenty20,’ he added.
Nazmul added that they are confident to host the show despite some of the venues’ preparation work yet to gather momentum as they have enough time to complete it.
Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium will be the main venue while the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong along with Fatullah Stadium and Sylhet Stadium will also be used to accommodate the games of the men’s section.
Sylhet stadium is yet to start its renovation work as the National Sports Council has yet to release funds for the project.
‘I am very confident as the stadium is already there. We need to renovate the media box and need floodlights and the four dressing rooms and for that it won’t take more than two months,’ said Nazmul.
‘We are still waiting but I can assure you that we won’t wait long if it takes so much time and the BCB will complete the work on their own,’ he added.
He also said that the land for the proposed venue in Cox’s Bazar will soon be handed over to the BCB after which the board will start to prepare the ground where the games of the women’s teams are expected to be played.
-With New Age input
