Bangladesh have taken a firm stand ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, announcing on Thursday that they will not travel to India for the tournament scheduled to begin on February 7, following the ICC’s rejection of their request to shift matches to a neutral venue.
The decision was taken by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) after a meeting between national team players and Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul, despite the ICC maintaining that there is no credible security threat to the Bangladesh team in India.
ICC Issues Ultimatum, Bangladesh Push Back
According to sources, the ICC gave the BCB a 24-hour ultimatum — either confirm participation in India or risk being replaced in the tournament. However, Bangladesh chose to adopt a defiant position.
Speaking at a press conference, Asif Nazrul rejected the ICC’s assessment.
“The security risk regarding playing in India remains unchanged. This concern is not based on abstract analysis,” Nazrul said.
“Our cricketers are ready, but we expect the ICC to consider our genuine concerns and allow us to play in Sri Lanka.”
BCB Insists It Wants to Play — But Not in India
While refusing to travel to India, the BCB reiterated that it is keen to participate in the World Cup, provided an alternative venue is approved.
BCB president Aminul Islam Bulbul expressed strong dissatisfaction with the ICC’s handling of the situation.
“We want to play the World Cup, but we won’t play in India. We will continue to communicate with the ICC,” Bulbul said.
“There were shocking calls in the ICC Board meeting. The Mustafizur issue is not an isolated matter.”
Mustafizur Rahman Issue at the Center of Dispute
Bangladesh’s concerns escalated after pacer Mustafizur Rahman was removed from the IPL on BCCI’s instructions due to unspecified “developments,” which the Bangladesh board believes exposed broader security and political issues.
Bangladesh are scheduled to play four matches in India — three in Kolkata and one in Mumbai.
Replacement on the Cards
With the standoff unresolved, Bangladesh now face the real possibility of being replaced by Scotland in the tournament, as the ICC looks to finalize logistics ahead of the competition.
What Happens Next
- ICC expected to issue a formal response
- Bangladesh to continue negotiations
- Tournament schedule may be impacted if replacement is confirmed
