The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has denied a report by ESPNcricinfo claiming that the International Cricket Council (ICC) rejected Bangladesh’s request to relocate its matches from India for the upcoming men’s T20 World Cup, citing security concerns.
A senior BCB official on Wednesday dismissed the report as “inaccurate and misleading,” clarifying that the ICC did not issue any ultimatum to Bangladesh regarding participation in the tournament. ESPNcricinfo had earlier reported that the ICC informed the BCB during a virtual meeting that Bangladesh would be required to travel to India or face the risk of forfeiting points.
Refuting that claim, the BCB official told The Daily Star on condition of anonymity that no such meeting took place. “The ICC responded to our mail last night. The news published by ESPNcricinfo isn’t right. There was no conference call. They sent us an email and raised some queries. We will issue a media release shortly,” he said.
The official further emphasized that the ICC’s correspondence did not include any threat or deadline. “No kind of ultimate issue was mentioned in the email,” he added.
The BCB also issued a statement on Wednesday, saying the ICC had reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring Bangladesh’s full and uninterrupted participation in the tournament and had expressed willingness to work closely with the board to address the concerns raised.
ICC had also assured that the BCB’s inputs would be welcomed and duly considered as part of the detailed security planning for the event, the board's statement said.
This marks the first formal communication from the ICC since Bangladesh approached the global governing body on Sunday, requesting that its T20 World Cup matches be shifted out of India due to security concerns.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the ICC has asked the BCB to provide a more detailed explanation of the specific security issues cited and to submit its concerns formally in writing.
The controversy has surfaced amid growing tension surrounding Bangladesh’s cricketing engagements in India. Relations were reportedly strained earlier after Bangladesh left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman was withdrawn from the Indian Premier League (IPL), a move that unsettled the Bangladesh camp.
In the aftermath, Bangladesh decided against sending its team to India for the T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to begin on February 7. The BCB also took the significant step of banning the broadcast of the Indian Premier League within Bangladesh.
As discussions between the ICC and the BCB continue, the situation remains fluid, with Bangladesh awaiting further clarification from the world body before determining its final course of action regarding the tournament.