Tensions Boil Over: Bangladesh Official Vents at ICC In Heated Meeting
BCB chairman vents frustration in ICC talks; Bangladesh ousted from T20 WC.
Bangladesh has been officially excluded from the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 following their refusal to travel to India, with a report revealing that tensions escalated during high-level discussions between the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). After more than three weeks of negotiations, the ICC replaced Bangladesh with Scotland, bringing an end to prolonged uncertainty over the team’s participation.
According to reports, the BCB raised concerns about security in India and formally requested that Bangladesh’s World Cup fixtures be shifted to Sri Lanka, the tournament’s co-host. The issue gained urgency after a series of exchanges between the two boards, during which the ICC gave Bangladesh a 24-hour deadline to confirm their participation under the existing schedule. Bangladesh remained firm in their stance, prompting the ICC to take decisive action.
A Cricbuzz report detailed that ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta remained in constant contact with BCB officials throughout the process. During one video conference meeting, tensions reportedly peaked when BCB chairman Aminul Islam expressed strong objections to the ICC’s assessment and reasoning, making it clear that Bangladesh would not accept the governing body’s conclusions.
Also Read: BCB President Seeks Government Input After ICC Rejects T20 World Cup Venue Change
Bangladesh were scheduled to play four matches in Kolkata and Mumbai and had been placed in Group C alongside England, the West Indies, Nepal, and Italy. With their withdrawal, Scotland has now taken that spot, qualifying as the highest-ranked team that narrowly missed direct qualification for the tournament.
In an official statement, the ICC said it had undertaken an extensive and transparent review of the concerns raised by the BCB. The council stated that its security assessments found no credible or verifiable threat to the Bangladesh team, officials, or supporters in India.
Based on these findings and after considering the wider implications for the tournament, the ICC decided not to amend the published schedule. As a result, Bangladesh’s non-participation was confirmed, marking a significant development ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Also Read: BCB Stands Firm: No Travel to India For T20 World Cup 2026, Requests Sri Lanka Shift
