The Bangladesh Cricket Board vs BCCI controversy reached such a peak that even the ICC despite several attempts could not resolve the long standing issues and force the BCB to reconsider its plans for the ICC T20 World Cup. The final decision is given by the Sports Advisor to the Government of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh started disagreeing with the ICC over the ICC T20 World Cup schedule after the Indian board, BCCI, canceled Mustafizur Rahman’s IPL contract with Kolkata Knight Riders.
The BCCI probably took this decision in response to the growing anti-Bangladesh movements in India and the ongoing threats on the future of the IPL, as well as to silence the KKR owners and their management.
Bangladesh sticks to its stand for T20 World Cup; ICC talks fail
The BCB had clearly mentioned to the ICC that if Bangladesh were to participate in the ICC T20 World Cup, their matches needed to be shifted to some other venue outside India, for which they cited co-hosts Sri Lanka as ideal.
However, the ICC’s logistical challenges ruled out any such possibility; Therefore, the BCB suggested swapping groups with Ireland, a team whose matches are scheduled in Sri Lanka. However, ICC rejected them too and gave an ultimatum to BCB asking them to declare their decision by January 21.
However, Asif Nazrul, sports advisor to the Bangladesh government, has said that they are not ready to compromise their stance in any way. He said that BCB is not ready to change its stance of playing T20 World Cup matches only in Sri Lanka.
Therefore, from this decision, it appears clear that no agreement was reached during the meeting between BCB and ICC officials in Dhaka, where they attempted to resolve the issue between the two boards.
JUST IN: Asif Nazrul, sports advisor to the Bangladesh government, has said that they are not ready to change their stance about playing in the T20 World Cup, and want all their games shifted to Sri Lanka.
No agreement was reached during the meeting between BCB and ICC officials… pic.twitter.com/0QNCJRSUbq
– Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) 20 January 2026
The BCB denied a boycott threat from the ICC, saying they “haven’t formally heard that they will drop us and replace it with Scotland.”
Despite several claims of ICC issuing an ultimatum to BCB over the T20 World Cup controversy, the BCB Bangladesh sports advisor has denied any such ultimatum that mentions their exclusion from the upcoming ICC event or being replaced by Scotland.
Asif Nazrul said, “We cannot be forced to play in India with unfair and unrealistic pressure. Having not heard formally they will throw us out and take Scotland.”
However, he continued to say that if the ICC, being an international body, succumbs to the atrocities of the BCCI, they are not ready to step back even an inch, no matter what the outcome of the decision.
“If the ICC bows down to the BCCI and puts pressure on us, if they make unrealistic demands, we will not accept. There have been instances where India has refused to travel to Pakistan, the ICC has changed the venue.”
“We have asked for the change of venue for logical reasons. They cannot force us to play in India by putting undue pressure on them,” Nazrul said at a press conference on Tuesday.
Bangladesh matches are mostly scheduled in Kolkata
Bangladesh have been placed in the same group with two-time T20 World Cup winners England and West Indies. Italy and Nepal are also included in their group.
Bangladesh are scheduled to play their matches in Kolkata, and their last match of the group stage is scheduled at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The ICC has reviewed the security arrangements and said that the security threat against the Bangladesh team is negligible.
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