BCB has refuted reports that the ICC has given an ultimatum to Bangladesh for refusing to host the World Cup in India.
Bangladesh cricket authorities have agreed to “work closely” with the International Cricket Council (ICC) to resolve safety concerns regarding the team’s participation in the T20 World Cup in India.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said in a statement on Wednesday, three days after announcing the men’s team would not travel to the neighboring country, that it would work with tournament organizers to ensure the country’s participation.
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“The ICC communicated its intention to work closely with the BCB to address the concerns and assured that the Board’s input is welcomed and will be formally considered as part of the event’s detailed safety plan,” the BCB statement said.
“BCB will continue to engage constructively with the ICC and relevant event authorities in a collaborative and professional manner to arrive at an approachable and practical solution that will ensure a smooth and successful participation of the team in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup,” the statement added.
The sports governing body and the BCB reportedly held a virtual meeting on Tuesday in response to Bangladesh’s request to change the match venue.
India and Sri Lanka have been co-hosting a 20-team tournament since February 7, but all of Bangladesh’s group matches have been allocated to Indian venues.
Bangladesh’s refusal to travel to India stems from the recent controversy over Bangladesh’s star fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman being dropped from his Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, Kolkata Knight Riders, on instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
This led to protests from Bangladeshi cricket fans and administrative authorities, prompting the BCB to take reciprocal measures. Meanwhile, the BCB asked the ICC to move the match venue from India to Sri Lanka citing safety concerns and said the team would not go to India.
After two days of silence, the ICC and BCB, led by former BCCI chief Jay Shah, held a teleconference to discuss the issue, with the tournament and Bangladesh’s opener just over a month away.
According to a report by ESPNCricinfo, the ICC informed the BCB during the meeting that Bangladesh needed to travel to India or risk being stripped of points.
However, BCB refuted the report and said the claim was “completely false”.
“The BCB has taken note of certain reports published in some parts of the media suggesting that the Board has been given an ultimatum. Such claims are completely false, baseless and do not reflect the nature or content of the communications received from the ICC.”
Earlier, Bangladesh’s caretaker government also banned the broadcast of the IPL, stating that “the unceremonious dismissal of a star player defies logic” and “hurts people.”
It is the latest flashpoint in a growing dispute with neighboring India, which has now spilled over into cricket relations between the two countries.
Ongoing tensions have escalated in recent weeks after a 25-year-old Hindu man was publicly lynched and burned in Bangladesh after being accused of blasphemy.
Days later, Hindu activists attempted to storm the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi, which was protesting against the neighboring country’s failure to protect its Hindu minority.
Diplomatic relations between the once-close allies have been severely tested since last August, when former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled Dhaka for New Delhi following a revolt against her rule.
Bangladesh blames India for many of its problems, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s support for Hasina when she was in power.
