The Bangladesh Cricket Board is confident about Sylhet Divisional stadium’s chances of hosting ICC World Twenty20 matches next year as the progress of its development work satisfied the inspection team, said a BCB official on Monday. The International Cricket Council delegation, which includes event director Chris Tetley, stadium consultant Eugene Van Vuuren, event manager Dhiraj Malhotra and chief curator Andy Atkinson, went to inspect the Sylhet venue before admitting to BCB officials about their satisfaction regarding the ground.
The venues of the ICC World Twenty20 will be finalised during the upcoming ICC meeting which is expected to be attended by all the elected board presidents in Dubai from October 16-18.
‘The inspection team appeared satisfied,’ said executive committee member Lokman Hossain Bhuiyan, who accompanied the ICC officials in Sylhet.
‘We crossed one of our major hurdles regarding the venue by being able to switch on the floodlights in front of them as they were very concerned about it,’ said Lokman.
‘They promised to co-operate with the BCB and are thinking about visiting the ground one last time next month. This only proves that they are hopeful about its prospects,’ added Lokman, who was the chairman of the grounds committee of the BCB during his tenure as an ad-hoc member.
The tournament is scheduled to be held from March 16 to April 9, 2014 with Dhaka’s Sher-e-Bangla National stadium, Chittagong’s Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium and Sylhet Divisional stadium being touted as the venues for the men’s event.
The BCB has also earmarked Cox’s Bazar stadium for all matches of the women’s event.
As the ICC previously stated its reservations about Sylhet and Cox’s Bazar, the BCB said it has prepared the Fatullah stadium and BKSP as alternate venues.
-With New Age input
