ICC denied Bangladesh’s request and instructed them to play in India or forfeit points. Previously Bangladesh Cricket Board urged the ICC to change their venues from India to Sri Lanka. Now, reports are coming that ICC has rejected the request and asked them to come to India. Though the BCB denied all the reports and stated that no such communication had been made by ICC to them. ICC also did not release any statement on this matter. Conflicting reports are now emerging, and no clarity has been provided by the BCCI either.
A BCB statement says, “The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has received a response from the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding the Board's expressed concerns over the safety and security of the Bangladesh National Cricket Team in India for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, including the request for relocation of the team's matches.”
What does the BCB statement read?
The BCB has addressed the report and suggested that no clear communication has happened till now, though Cricbuzz suggested that the BCB will have a meeting with its directors on Wednesday from 3.30 pm.
They released a statement which reads, "In its communication, the ICC has reiterated its commitment to ensuring the full and uninterrupted participation of the Bangladesh team in the tournament. The ICC has conveyed its willingness to work closely with the BCB to address the concerns raised and has assured that the Board's inputs will be welcomed and duly considered as part of the detailed security planning for the event.”
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"The BCB has also taken note of certain reports published in a section of the media suggesting that the Board has been issued an ultimatum in this regard. The BCB categorically states that such claims are completely false, unfounded and do not reflect the nature or content of the communication received from the ICC," it adds.
They also say, "The Bangladesh Cricket Board remains firmly committed to placing the highest priority on the safety, security and well-being of the Bangladesh National Cricket Team. The Board will continue constructive engagement with the ICC and relevant event authorities in a cooperative and professional manner to arrive at an affable and practical solution that ensures the smooth and successful participation of the team in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.”
What will happen if Bangladesh refuses to come to India?
Match forfeiture and loss of points
If Bangladesh refuses to play matches scheduled in India and the International Cricket Council does not approve a venue change, those fixtures can be declared forfeits. In this situation, Bangladesh’s opponents would be awarded full points without a match being played. For example, if Bangladesh does not take the field against England in India, England would receive two points, while Bangladesh would get none, effectively ending their group-stage hopes.
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Complete withdrawal from the World Cup
If the dispute escalates and the Bangladesh Cricket Board formally withdraws from the tournament, Bangladesh would play no matches in the World Cup. The ICC could replace them with another eligible team. This would lead to loss of prize money, reduced global exposure, and potential long-term damage to Bangladesh’s relationship with the ICC.
