Bangladesh has formally rejected the deadline imposed by the International Cricket Council (ICC), insisting that it will not play any matches on Indian soil in the forthcoming T20 World Cup. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), in concert with government authorities, has reiterated that the national side’s preference is for the matches to be relocated to Sri Lanka.
After a lengthy meeting on Thursday at the Intercontinental Hotel in Dhaka, involving national cricketers, BCB officials, and government sports policymakers, Bangladesh’s stance remained unchanged. Speaking at a press conference, BCB President Aminul Islam Bulbul said, “Even though the ICC has given us a 24-hour ultimatum, no global body can impose such a rigid decision unilaterally. We will continue to engage with the ICC, advocating our plan to play in Sri Lanka.”
Bulbul also highlighted the potential commercial impact, noting that if Bangladesh abstains from participating in India, the ICC stands to lose an estimated 200 million viewers, amounting to a significant financial setback.
On the subject of co-hosting, Bulbul expressed his objections to recognising Sri Lanka as a co-host in India, describing the arrangement as a ‘hybrid model’. He revealed his surprise at certain comments made during ICC meetings, implying that the board does not fully support this mixed-host approach.
Government sports adviser Asif Nazrul Sarkar confirmed that the decision to avoid India was taken at the state level, citing security concerns as paramount. He remarked, “We remain hopeful that the ICC will approve Bangladesh’s proposal to play in Sri Lanka. Security considerations have been prioritised according to government policy.”
While players are reportedly eager to participate, the government’s security guidelines have constrained their ability to travel to India.
Yesterday, the ICC dismissed Bangladesh’s security concerns and warned that failure to participate in India could result in another team—possibly Scotland—being included in the tournament in Bangladesh’s place.
The table below summarises the key points of the ongoing discussions:
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| National Authority | Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) |
| Current Stance | Will not play matches in India |
| Alternative Proposal | Play matches in Sri Lanka |
| ICC Message | 24-hour ultimatum |
| Potential Loss | ICC could lose 200 million viewers |
| Government Role | Decision to avoid India taken at state level |
| Players’ Position | Keen to play but restricted due to security concerns |
Bangladesh’s firm position is expected to reverberate across the international cricketing community and could have significant ramifications for the tournament schedule, viewer engagement, and diplomatic negotiations with the ICC in the days ahead.