Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hasan said on Monday (January 20) that they will bid to host ICC events during the next rights cycle 2024-31.
Nazmul revealed that the ICC, like the Olympics and FIFA, are planning to allot tournaments through an elaborate bidding process, with the highest bidder winning the hosting rights, Cricbuzz reports.
As a result, hosting of ICC events will now no longer be limited to Test nations, breaking new grounds for fringe nations. ICC’s newly appointed CEO, Manu Sawhney, and commercial general manager, Campbell Jamieson, are currently in Dhaka on a short visit, largely to conduct meetings and measure up Bangladesh's potential bid to host future ICC tournaments.
“Previously, ICC events were distributed continent-wise and the host country was selected through negotiation between various Test boards,” Nazmul said.
“This time the ICC have proposed to go for bidding and this model is also followed by FIFA and Olympic, so a lot more nations can take part in the bidding.”
Between 2024 and 2031, there are 24 men’s, women's and Under-19 ICC events scheduled. In the ongoing cycle, the Big Three - India, Australia and England - hosted most of the ICC events between 2016 and 2023, with Bangladesh, West Indies, South Africa, New Zealand and Sri Lanka not getting a fair say.
But according to Nazmul, it might not be the case when the ICC comes up with this new proposal during the next cycle beginning 2023.
“They have met Malaysia’s prime minister, visited Australia and New Zealand, and they are going to America as well,” said Nazmul.
“Those who are interested to host ICC events, they are visiting those countries and it will certainly raise the income of the member countries.
“Bangladesh will obviously bid. Lots of countries do not have eight stadiums to host a major tournament but our main advantage is that we do not need to develop infrastructure. If other countries want to hold the event, they will need huge investment to develop infrastructure.
“Yes, security is an important factor. They are taking a look at that
even in India.”
