The International Cricket Council has turned down the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s request to move its T20 World Cup matches out of India. The decision was communicated during a video meeting between the two organizations, with the ICC making it clear that Bangladesh must travel to India for the tournament or risk losing points.
ICC Rejects Bangladesh Plea
According to sources, the ICC told the Bangladesh Cricket Board that the tournament schedule and venues will stay the same despite the concerns raised. The global body indicated to the BCB that refusing to play matches in India could lead to sporting consequences, including the chance of forfeiting points. However, BCB sources said they have not yet received any official notice confirming the rejection.
This standoff comes after rising tensions between the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the BCB following the release of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League. The BCCI had asked Kolkata Knight Riders to end Mustafizur’s contract, citing “developments all around.” This action occurred amid political backlash in India over reports of violence against minorities in Bangladesh.
Schedule emergency meeting after Mustafizur’s release
After Mustafizur’s release, the BCB held an emergency meeting to evaluate the situation and later wrote to the ICC, voicing concerns about the safety and security of its players if they traveled to India for the T20 World Cup. Bangladesh also pointed to precedents, with BCB director Faruque Ahmed mentioning Pakistan’s participation in ICC events under a hybrid model to support their request.
As the situation escalated, Bangladesh took further steps by banning the broadcast of the upcoming IPL season in the country. Faruque Ahmed told news earlier that politics played a big role in damaging the relationship between the two cricket boards, emphasizing that cricket issues have become mixed with broader matters.
Meanwhile, Mustafizur has quickly moved on, joining the Pakistan Super League shortly after leaving the IPL. While the ICC’s position suggests little interest in making last-minute changes to the World Cup schedule, the lack of official communication has left room for continued uncertainty, and the BCB has yet to publicly confirm its next steps.
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