Bangladesh's Last-Ditch DRC Appeal Set To Be Rejected Over ICC Rules
DRC cannot hear appeals against ICC Board decisions.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) attempt to challenge the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) decision to stage Bangladesh’s men’s T20 World Cup matches in India is unlikely to succeed, as the ICC’s Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) does not have the authority to hear appeals against decisions taken by the global body’s Board of Directors.
The BCB has written to the DRC as a last resort, requesting it to overturn the ICC Board’s ruling, which was passed by a 14–2 majority following an independent security assessment that rated the threat level in India as “low to moderate”. The appeal comes amid mounting pressure on the BCB, led by president Aminul Islam Bulbul, after Bangladesh’s interim government cited security concerns and indicated the team would not travel to India.
However, a review of the ICC Constitution and the DRC’s Terms of Reference makes clear that the committee cannot act as an appellate body. Clause 1.3 explicitly states that the DRC “shall not operate as an appeal body against decisions of the ICC or any decision-making body established under the ICC’s Memorandum and Articles of Association.” As a result, the committee is not empowered to overturn or even formally hear an appeal against the board’s decision.
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A BCB source told Press Trust of India that if the DRC rules against Bangladesh, the only remaining option would be to approach the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland. ICC sources, however, maintain that the case may not even be admitted for consideration due to jurisdictional limitations.
The controversy has also strained relations between the ICC and Bangladeshi officials. Sources said ICC Board members were unhappy that the BCB allowed a press conference to be held before formally communicating its position to the global body. Bangladesh’s sports ministry advisor Asif Nazrul has also been viewed unfavourably by ICC officials following his public statements.
Historically, the DRC has limited itself to examining whether ICC procedures were followed correctly, rather than revisiting the merits of decisions. Its 2018 rejection of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s compensation claim against the BCCI underscores that precedent. With ICC chairman Jay Shah expected to announce a formal decision on Bangladesh’s replacement soon, the prospects of relief through the DRC remain remote.
Also Read: BCB Stands Firm: No Travel to India For T20 World Cup 2026, Requests Sri Lanka Shift
