A four-member delegation of high-level ICC officials arrived in Dhaka on Friday to inspect the venues ahead of the 2014 ICC World Twenty20 tournament, officials said yesterday.
The ICC delegation includes event director Chris Tetley, stadium consultant Eugene Van Vuuren, event manager Dhiraj Malhotra and chief curator Andy Atkinson, who are expected to have a busy week ahead.
They are scheduled to visit the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium and the BKSP ground today, followed by a visit to the Sylhet Divisional Stadium tomorrow.
The Sylhet venue’s fate as a tournament host could
be sealed when the delegation inspects the stadium to monitor the progress of its development work.
At its last annual general meeting, the ICC expressed concern over the Sylhet and Cox’s Bazar venues, which are slated to host matches for the men’s and women’s World Twenty20 tournaments.
ICC officials will visit the Fatullah Stadium on Monday. They will then be in Chittagong for two days to see the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium and to inspect work at the Cox’s Bazar stadium.
While there is no concern about the ground in Chittagong, which is one of Bangladesh’s major Test venues and was used successfully for 2011 World Cup matches, officials cannot provide any guarantees about Cox’s Bazar.
The tournament is scheduled for March 16-April 9 next year, with Dhaka’s Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Chittagong’s Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium and the Sylhet Divisional Stadium being touted as the venues for the men’s event.
-With New Age input
