Bangladesh will not travel to India for their T20 World Cup matches after the ICC turned down their request to shift games to another venue. The decision came on Wednesday following a meeting between Bangladesh players and government officials.
The ICC gave Bangladesh a 24-hour deadline to confirm whether they would play in India or face replacement. Bangladesh Cricket Board president Aminul Islam Bulbul said his team wants to compete in the World Cup but refuses to play matches in India. The ICC’s venue decision stood firm despite Bangladesh’s security concerns.
Security Concerns Behind the Decision
Bangladesh said safety concerns were the main reason for leaving. These concerns grew after the BCCI told Kolkata Knight Riders to remove Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad. Bangladesh’s Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul said the security risk is real and not just an abstract idea.
The government and BCB have maintained their position has not changed since they first raised the issue. Players attended the meeting with officials before the final call was made. This shows the decision came from both cricket authorities and the Bangladesh government.
Bangladesh had four matches scheduled in India during the tournament. Three games were set for Kolkata, while one match was planned in Mumbai. The BCB asked the ICC to move these fixtures to Sri Lanka instead. The tournament begins on February 7 with India and Sri Lanka as co-hosts.
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ICC Stands Firm
The ICC rejected the venue shift request and said no credible security threat exists for players, officials or fans in India. The World Body also stated that changing schedules this close to the tournament is not possible. ICC officials warned Bangladesh that another team would replace them if they refused to play.
Scotland appears next in line as the replacement team based on rankings. The ICC keeps ranked teams ready for such situations. Scotland will likely step in if Bangladesh sticks to its decision.
BCB officials accused the ICC of having double standards. They pointed out that other teams got venue changes for political reasons in the past. Bulbul criticized the ICC Board Meeting decisions and said the Mustafizur Rahman issue played a major role in their stance.
Bangladesh’s firm position puts them at risk of missing the entire tournament. The 24-hour ultimatum passed without Bangladesh changing its mind. The BCB continues talks with the ICC but remains defiant about not playing in India.
The tournament starts in less than three weeks. The ICC needs a quick resolution to finalize the schedule and inform broadcasters. Bangladesh joining or Scotland replacing them will be confirmed in the coming days.
Asif Nazrul called the ICC decision unacceptable and backed the team’s safety concerns. The government supports the cricket board’s position fully. Bangladesh wants to participate in the World Cup but only if matches move out of India to Sri Lanka or another neutral venue.For more cricket news and World Cup updates, visit JeetWin Sports.
