Bangladesh refuses to accept ICC’s stipulations for T20 World Cup participation, asserting that the nation will not be compelled to play in India under unfair pressure. Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul made the comments during a press briefing at the Secretariat on Tuesday.
He stated unequivocally, “We will not allow ourselves to be forced to play in India under unreasonable conditions.” Nazrul emphasised that any attempt by the ICC to exert undue influence on Bangladesh via the Indian cricket board will be firmly rejected. “If the ICC bows to the Indian board and imposes irrational conditions on us, we will not accept them,” he added.
Nazrul cited the ICC’s previous venue changes as an example. “Pakistan had announced that India would not travel to play there, and the ICC subsequently changed the venue. In our case, we have requested a venue change for highly reasonable and justified reasons. We will not be coerced into playing in India through unreasonable pressure,” he explained.
Earlier reports by AFP suggested that Scotland could replace Bangladesh if the latter refuses to participate in the T20 World Cup. However, the BBC has clarified that no formal discussions have occurred between ICC and Cricket Scotland. The governing body has not contacted Scotland regarding a potential replacement at this stage.
The T20 World Cup is scheduled to commence on 7 February, but Bangladesh has already expressed security concerns over playing in India. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has written to the ICC twice, requesting that all their matches be shifted to Sri Lanka. Although ICC officials met with BCB representatives in Dhaka to discuss the matter, no resolution was reached.
While the ICC has not formally announced a decision, cricket websites such as Cricinfo and several Indian news outlets reported on Monday that the ICC had set a Wednesday deadline for Bangladesh to respond. The BCB, however, refutes this claim, stating that no deadline has been imposed.
Summary of the Situation:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | ICC T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Scheduled Start | 7 February 2026 |
| Bangladesh’s Position | Will not play in India under unreasonable conditions |
| ICC Proposal | Implied pressure to participate in India; possible replacement by Scotland |
| BCB Actions | Two formal letters requesting venue change to Sri Lanka; meetings with ICC officials |
| Current Status | No final decision from ICC; Bangladesh rejects deadlines reported by media |
With tensions rising, cricket fans and officials will be closely watching whether the ICC can reach a compromise or if Bangladesh will stand firm on its security and fairness concerns.