In Shorts
- BCB insists it will not play T20 World Cup games in India over safety concerns and political tensions.
- President Aminul Islam Bulbul warns ICC risks losing up to 200 million viewers with Bangladesh’s exclusion.
- ICC rejected Bangladesh’s request to relocate matches to Sri Lanka and may replace the team if it does not comply.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board has taken a firm stand against participating in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup if its matches remain scheduled in India. The board’s president, Aminul Islam Bulbul, confirmed on Thursday that the team will not travel for the tournament after its plea to change venues was turned down by cricket’s global governing body.
During a press briefing, Bulbul stressed that Bangladesh still wants to compete in the World Cup but is adamant about not playing on Indian soil. He described several decisions during the ICC board meeting as “shocking” and criticised how the issue of security was handled, particularly following the removal of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League earlier this season.
The BCB had formally requested that their fixtures be moved to co-host Sri Lanka, arguing that ongoing political tensions have raised genuine safety concerns. However, the ICC rejected the proposal, stating there are no credible security threats and that altering the schedule this close to the tournament could undermine the integrity of global events.
Bulbul also highlighted the potential wider impact of Bangladesh’s absence, warning that the ICC could lose access to nearly 200 million cricket followers if the team is excluded. He asserted that cricket’s popularity could suffer if a full-member nation is sidelined from a marquee global competition.
Bangladesh’s youth and sports adviser echoed these concerns, saying the ICC has not adequately addressed the board’s grievances. With a final decision expected soon, the standoff has raised the possibility that Scotland — the highest ranked team not initially qualified — could replace Bangladesh in Group C of the tournament.
The T20 World Cup is scheduled to commence on February 7, with India and Sri Lanka acting as co-hosts. Bangladesh had been due to open its campaign in Kolkata before facing additional group matches in India. As talks continue, cricket fans and administrators alike are watching closely to see if a last-minute resolution can be achieved.
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