SBNS satisfies ICC troop, next stop Sylhet

The four-member venue inspection team from International Cricket Council (ICC) visited the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS) in Mirpur and two grounds at BKSP yesterday ahead of next year’s World T20 championships to be hosted by Bangladesh. The inspection team will be visiting the venue in Sylhet today.
Headed by the event director Chris Tetley, stadium consultant Eugene Van Vuuren, event manager Dhiraj Malhotra and chief curator Andy Atkinson, the ICC team visited SBNS yesterday morning where they observed the facilities and some pending works.

The fate of hosting the mega event lies at the hands of the inspection team as their report will decide whether Bangladesh are capable of holding the big stage. The inspection team was, however, satisfied with the condition of SBNS, informed Bangladesh Cricket Board’s acting chief executive officer Nizamuddin Chowdhury. “They have seen all the facilities which are necessary for the T20 World Championship and apart from some small works to be done in the dressing room they are satisfied about SBNS,” he said.
However, Tetley informed that the final report will be made after inspecting all the venues. “We have seen SBNS today (yesterday) and we are going to visit all the venues one by one and after observing the progress of the venues we are going to say something,” said Chris Tetley.
The visitors travelled to Savar later yesterday to inspect the two under construction grounds situated at BKSP.The ICC delegates are expected to visit Sylhet today and the Cox’s Bazar stadium on August 20.
The men’s and women’s World T20 Championships are scheduled to be held from March 16 to April 9 next year in Bangladesh with the capital’s Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Chittagong’s Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium and Sylhet Divisional Stadium being touted to host the men’s event. The BCB has earmarked Cox’s Bazar stadium for all the matches of the women’s event.
Earlier, the ICC at its last annual general meeting expressed concern over the Sylhet and Cox’s Bazar stadiums, which will host part of the men’s and women’s games. BCB came up with a backup plan in preparing Fatullah Stadium and BKSP as alternative venues.
MU