The ICC has denied Bangladesh’s plea to relocate its T20 World Cup matches, citing no security threat and casting doubt on the team’s participation
THE International Cricket Council has rejected Bangladesh’s request to move its T20 World Cup matches out of India.
The decision casts doubt on Bangladesh’s participation in the tournament, which begins in just over two weeks on February 7.
Bangladesh’s four group matches are scheduled to be played in Kolkata and Mumbai. The ICC stated that “in the absence of any independent security findings that… compromise the safety of the Bangladesh team”, it will not relocate the matches.
The council said independent security assessments and formal host assurances found “no credible or verifiable threat to the safety” of the team.
The row stems from an incident on January 3, when the Indian cricket board ordered an IPL franchise to release Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman. The ICC noted the Bangladesh Cricket Board had maintained its position citing “a single, isolated and unrelated development concerning one of its player’s involvement in a domestic league.”
Despite “sustained and constructive dialogue”, the ICC said its efforts to ensure participation had been “rebuffed”. The BCB had asked to move its matches to co-host Sri Lanka, but sources in Colombo said they had not been contacted about hosting.
Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul told state media that Bangladesh “cannot be forced to play in India.” Captain Litton Das expressed widespread uncertainty, asking reporters, “Are you sure we will play the World Cup?”
ICC sources indicated Bangladesh could be replaced by Scotland, the highest-ranked non-qualifying team. The tournament coincides with Bangladesh’s first elections since a 2024 uprising toppled Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, a New Delhi ally, after which political relations soured.
