ICC unmoved by Bangladesh's request, will ask team to play T20 World Cup in India: Report

Bangladesh Cricket Board’s request to take their T20 World Cup matches outside India is likely to be rejected by the International Cricket Council. The latest development comes after Bangladesh wrote to the ICC requesting their matches to be shifted out of India, citing security threats to their players.

ICC is set to ask Bangladesh to adhere to the existing schedule. This would mean Bangladesh will have to play their group-stage matches in Kolkata and Mumbai and will not be granted permission to play in Sri Lanka, a venue they had requested amid growing political differences between the two countries.

Tensions escalated rapidly between the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the Bangladesh Cricket Board after India terminated Mustafizur Rahman’s Indian Premier League contract. The BCCI’s move came on the backdrop of a huge backlash against Bangladesh from certain political groups in India, who cited repeated violence against the Hindu



minority in Bangladesh.

After the BCCI forced Kolkata Knight Riders to release the Bangladesh pacer, the BCB convened an emergency high-level meeting to discuss the situation. In response to their player’s release, Bangladesh wrote to the ICC requesting that their T20 World Cup matches be moved out of India, once again citing concerns over the safety and security of their players.

Faruque Ahmed also cited Pakistan’s case to justify Bangladesh’s stand, pointing out that India and Pakistan already follow a hybrid model in international tournaments.

The ICC is yet to make a public statement on the situation.

Bangladesh also banned the broadcast of the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League in their country. In an interview with India Today, Bangladesh Cricket Board's director, Faruque Ahmed said that politics played a major role in the escalation of the situation between the BCCI and BCB.