DHAKA: The Bangladesh Cricket Board has once again informed the International Cricket Council that it will not play any matches of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India, formally requesting that the matter be referred to an independent dispute resolution committee, sources said.
In a fresh letter sent to the ICC, the board reiterated its refusal just two days after the governing body turned down Bangladesh’s request to relocate its matches outside India for next month’s tournament.
The board underlined that its position has remained unchanged throughout, maintaining that Bangladesh will not play in India due to security concerns. The letter reaffirmed that the team would not be sent to India under the current circumstances.
Earlier, on January 21, BCB president Aminul Islam said that after the ICC rejected the request, he had asked for additional time to consult the government one final time before responding.
He said the ICC acknowledged the concern and allowed him 24 to 48 hours to revert, adding that he did not want to place undue pressure on the government. Islam reiterated that Bangladesh preferred to play its matches in Sri Lanka, citing safety concerns in India.
While acknowledging the ICC’s decision to keep the tournament schedule unchanged, the BCB president said he would relay the government’s feedback once consultations were complete.
He expressed hope that the ICC might still reconsider, noting that both players and the government wanted Bangladesh to participate in the World Cup, but insisted that the safety of players and others involved remained the primary concern when such decisions are made.
