Sylhet could be dropped from the itinerary of the Sri Lankan cricket team’s tour of Bangladesh as the Sri Lankan High Commission in Dhaka has some strong reservations about the security situation in the city, Bangladesh Cricket Board officials said on Tuesday. BCB president Nazmul Hasan, director Mahbub Anam and acting chief executive officer Nizamuddin Chowdhury met Sri Lankan High Commissioner W. A. Sarath K. Weragoda at his office on Tuesday to discuss the matter.
According to sources, the High Commissioner asked the BCB to drop the Sylhet venue from the fixtures for security purposes. Weragoda was confident about the proceeding of the series in an otherwise fruitful meeting.
BCB CEO Nizamuddin confirmed the High Commissioner’s reservation but said that they have yet to make a decision about it.
‘There can be several suggestions but we are yet to decide about dropping the Sylhet venue,’ Nizamuddin told New Age on Tuesday.
‘We are hopeful about the Sri Lanka tour and will take every step required to provide our guests with the maximum security.’
Weragoda is expected to send a letter explaining the security situation to Sri Lanka Cricket. The letter is likely to be taken into account before SLC makes a final decision regarding the series, scheduled to start on January 27.
Sylhet is scheduled to make its international debut with the first one-day international of the Sri Lanka series on February 17. The venue will later host six men’s first round matches of the ICC World Twenty20. It will also host all the women’s matches except the semi-finals and the final.
The SLC is expected to make its final decision regarding the Bangladesh tour during the ICC meeting in Dubai on January 9.
Weragoda looked confident about the series as he shared his views with some Bangladeshi TV channels.
Weragoda pointed out that the two major political parties’ leaders sat under the same roof together at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium during the final of the last Asia Cup, which suggests cricket is beyond political differences.
-With New Age input
