The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has decided not to send its team to India for the T20 World Cup. The International Cricket Council (ICC) issued a warning to the BCB but the organization still continues with its current decision. The ICC established that Bangladesh would lose its tournament spot if the country chose to boycott its matches in India.
BCB Cites Security Concerns
The BCB officially announced its decision to avoid sending a team to India because of security issues. This decision followed the ICC’s rejection of Bangladesh’s request to shift its matches to Sri Lanka. The BCB updated the ICC about its ultimate decision after consulting with both the Bangladesh government and national athletes.
The BCB asserts that its current security worries extend beyond player protection. The board expressed doubts about the safety of team officials, journalists, and fans. The organization claimed that the ICC threat assessment report failed to provide sufficient explanation of their security worries.
Possible Impact on Tournament Participation
- Scotland will take Bangladesh's spot in the tournament if Bangladesh gets banned from the competition according to ICC rankings. Bangladesh is scheduled to play four matches in India, including three in Kolkata and one in Mumbai. The team was set to play its opening match against West Indies on February 7, the first day of the tournament.
- The ICC will reach its final decision on the tournament exactly 15 days before the event starts.
Statements from Bangladesh Officials
The Bangladesh delegation announced that their players achieved World Cup qualification through intense training. The team is prepared to compete in Sri Lanka whenever they receive permission to do so. The players received information about the government’s choice which they reportedly comprehended.
Asif Nazrul, Bangladesh's sports advisor, stated that world cricket would suffer a significant loss if Bangladesh became excluded from the sport. He pointed out the vast number of cricket fans in the country and predicted the host nation would experience adverse effects because of this situation.
Similar Incidents in ICC History
ICC tournaments have experienced security-related player withdrawals since their inception.
- Australia and West Indies chose not to compete in Sri Lanka during the 1996 ODI World Cup.
- England boycotted the 2003 ODI World Cup match in Zimbabwe while New Zealand chose not to play in Kenya.
- The 2009 T20 World Cup in England lost Zimbabwe as a competing nation.
- Australia did not participate in the 2016 Under-19 World Cup which took place in Bangladesh.
- India refused to play in Pakistan during the 2025 Champions Trophy and instead competed through a hybrid format.
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