The International Cricket Council (ICC) has turned down Bangladesh’s request to relocate their T20 World Cup matches outside of India, putting the team’s participation in the tournament next month in question.
The World Cup is set to begin on February 7, with Bangladesh’s four group matches scheduled to be played in Kolkata and Mumbai. However, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has consistently objected to playing in India, citing security concerns. The Dhaka government has also expressed its unwillingness to bow to pressure on this matter.
In a statement, the ICC said it had thoroughly reviewed the security situation but found “no credible or verifiable threat to the safety” of the Bangladesh team. The governing body noted that the Bangladesh request had been assessed in light of independent security evaluations and formal assurances from host authorities, and there was no need to relocate the matches.
The dispute began on January 3, when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) ordered the Kolkata Knight Riders, an IPL franchise, to release Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman, sparking tensions. In response, the BCB proposed moving their matches to Sri Lanka, a co-host of the tournament, but the ICC has rejected this suggestion.
Despite ongoing discussions with the BCB, the ICC stated that their efforts had been “rebuffed.” Bangladesh’s Youth and Sports Adviser, Asif Nazrul, reiterated that the country “cannot be forced to play in India” and that the government’s stance would not change.
Bangladesh captain Litton Das, when asked about the team’s participation, expressed uncertainty, saying, “I think at this moment, the whole of Bangladesh is uncertain.”
While Bangladesh’s future in the tournament remains unclear, sources have suggested that Scotland, the highest-ranked team not already qualified, could replace Bangladesh if they withdraw.
