The International Cricket Council has rejected the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s request to shift its T20 World Cup matches out of India, India Today has learnt from sources familiar with the discussions. The decision was conveyed during a virtual meeting between the two bodies, with the ICC making it clear that Bangladesh will have to travel to India for the tournament or risk forfeiting points.
According to sources, the ICC informed the Bangladesh Cricket Board that the tournament schedule and venues would remain unchanged despite the concerns raised. The global body is understood to have told the BCB that refusing to play matches in India would have sporting consequences, including the possibility of points being forfeited. However, BCB sources have maintained that they have not yet received any official communication confirming the rejection.
The standoff follows a sharp escalation in tensions between the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the BCB after Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman was released from the Indian Premier League. The BCCI had asked Kolkata Knight Riders to terminate Mustafizur’s contract, citing “developments all around”, a move that came amid political backlash in India over reports of violence against minorities in Bangladesh.
Following Mustafizur’s release, the BCB convened an emergency meeting to assess the situation and subsequently wrote to the ICC, expressing concerns over the safety and security of its players if they were to travel to India for the T20 World Cup. Bangladesh also pointed to precedent, with BCB director Faruque Ahmed referencing Pakistan’s participation in ICC events under a hybrid model as justification for their request.
As the situation intensified, Bangladesh took further steps by banning the broadcast of the upcoming IPL season in the country. Speaking to India Today earlier, Faruque Ahmed said politics had played a significant role in worsening the relationship between the two cricket boards, stressing that cricketing matters had become entangled with wider issues.
Meanwhile, Mustafizur has moved on swiftly, joining the Pakistan Super League shortly after his IPL exit. While the ICC’s stance suggests little appetite for last-minute changes to the World Cup schedule, the lack of formal communication has left room for continued uncertainty, with the BCB yet to publicly confirm its next course of action.
