ICC shuts door on Bangladesh’s plea to shift T20 World Cup matches out of India

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rejected the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) request to move its T20 World Cup matches out of India, sources were quoted as saying drawing a hard line as tensions simmer between the two boards over security concerns and recent political fallout.

The decision was conveyed during a virtual meeting, with the ICC making it clear that the tournament’s schedule and venues will remain unchanged. According to sources, Bangladesh has been told it must travel to India for the World Cup or risk sporting consequences, including the forfeiture of points.

However, the BCB has pushed back on claims that it was issued any ultimatum. In a statement released later on Wednesday, the board said it had not received any official warning regarding penalties for refusing to play in India.

“The ICC has conveyed its willingness to work closely with the BCB to address the concerns raised and has assured that the Board’s inputs will be welcomed and duly considered as part of the detailed security planning for the event,” the BCB said.

The board also rejected reports suggesting it had been threatened with consequences. “The BCB categorically states that such claims are completely false, unfounded and do not reflect the nature or content of the communication received from the ICC,” it added.

The standoff comes against the backdrop of a sharp deterioration in relations between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the BCB following the release of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League. Kolkata Knight Riders terminated Mustafizur’s contract at the BCCI’s request, citing “developments all around,” amid political backlash in India over reports of violence against minorities in Bangladesh.

In the aftermath, the BCB convened an emergency meeting and formally wrote to the ICC, raising concerns over the safety and security of its players should they travel to India for the World Cup. Bangladesh also cited precedent, with BCB director Faruque Ahmed pointing to Pakistan’s participation in ICC tournaments under a hybrid hosting model as justification for the request.

As tensions escalated further, Bangladesh moved to ban the broadcast of the upcoming IPL season in the country. Faruque Ahmed acknowledged that politics had played a significant role in worsening ties, saying cricketing matters had become entangled with broader issues.

Meanwhile, Mustafizur has swiftly joined the Pakistan Super League after his IPL exit. While the ICC’s firm stance suggests little room for last-minute changes to the World Cup framework, the absence of formal written communication has kept uncertainty alive, with the BCB yet to publicly outline its next course of action.