'Won't play in India': Bangladesh boycott T20 World Cup after ICC rejects request to shift matches

The announcement followed a high-level meeting involving BCB representatives, members of the national squad, and interim government sports adviser Asif Nazrul.

The boycott threat, which had been discussed for days, was reaffirmed even after Bangladesh were warned that refusal to participate in India could lead to expulsion from the competition.

ICC rejects venue shift request

Bangladesh’s position came a day after the International Cricket Council (ICC) said the tournament would proceed as planned and confirmed that Bangladesh’s request to move its fixtures from India to Sri Lanka had been turned down.

The ICC stated that there was no credible security threat for Bangladeshi players in India, rejecting the argument that matches needed to be relocated. 

According to media reports, Bangladesh had been given a day to consult its government and reconsider its position, but the BCB chose to stand firm.

'Unfair treatment'

After the meeting, Asif Nazrul delivered a pointed response, accusing the ICC of failing to treat Bangladesh fairly and warning that player safety would not be compromised.

“The ICC has not served us justice,” Nazrul said, framing the dispute as bigger than a sporting commitment. 

“We will not bow down. Everyone should understand what it means if Bangladesh do not play the World Cup. We cannot give up our players’ security under any circumstances,” he added.

Bangladesh have been placed in Group C alongside England, Italy, Nepal and the West Indies. 

Under the current schedule, Bangladesh are slated to play three matches in Kolkata and one in Mumbai. 

The 16-team tournament begins on February 7, with Sri Lanka part of the tournament’s hybrid hosting model.

ICC likely to bring in Scotland as replacement

With Bangladesh refusing to travel, the ICC is now expected to name Scotland as the replacement team. 

In a statement on Thursday, the ICC said it had maintained “sustained and constructive dialogue” with the BCB for several weeks to keep Bangladesh in the tournament.

The global body said it shared independent security assessments, venue-level security plans, and formal assurances from host authorities. 

According to the ICC, all findings consistently concluded there was “no credible or verifiable threat” to the Bangladesh squad in India.

'Concerns not based on assumptions'

Nazrul insisted Bangladesh’s concerns were not speculative, pointing to a recent IPL-related episode involving Mustafizur Rahman. 

He claimed the Indian cricket board withdrew the Bangladesh pacer from the IPL after Kolkata Knight Riders faced threats from political groups protesting Bangladeshi participation.

“These concerns are not based on assumptions or hypothetical analysis; they stem from a real incident,” Nazrul said. 

He argued that if a top Bangladesh player could not be ensured safety in India during the IPL, there was no reason to trust security assurances during an ICC event hosted in the same country.

He also highlighted that the responsibility for protecting the team would fall on the host nation’s police and security agencies, reinforcing Bangladesh’s stance that it cannot risk player safety under any circumstances.

BCB still hoping ICC will reconsider

BCB vice-president Animul Islam Bulbul said Bangladesh would continue urging the ICC to reconsider the venue issue, even though the chances of a reversal appear slim.

“We contacted the ICC on January 4 and asked for an alternative venue. In the course of our communication, we explained the security concerns and cited the incidents that occurred in 1996 and 2003,” Bulbul said. 

He added that Bangladesh remained willing to play in Sri Lanka, arguing that the absence of a major cricket-loving nation would damage the tournament’s profile.

T20 WC without Bangladesh no longer unthinkable

As things stand, Bangladesh are preparing for multiple outcomes, including the possibility of being removed from the T20 World Cup entirely. 

Unless the ICC changes its position and agrees to a venue adjustment, Bangladesh’s boycott threat appears to be moving rapidly from warning to reality—setting the stage for a major dispute ahead of one of cricket’s biggest global events.