ICC Rejects Bangladesh Request, T20 World Cup Matches to Be Played in India as Scheduled
The ICC has rejected Bangladesh’s request to shift T20 World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka, saying there is no credible security threat and fixtures will be held as scheduled.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rejected the request of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to shift Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup group-stage matches from India to Sri Lanka. The ICC confirmed that Bangladesh’s matches will be played in India as per the original schedule, citing no credible security threat to players, officials, or fans.
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The decision was taken during an ICC Board meeting held via video conference on Wednesday to review concerns raised by the BCB.
ICC Board Vote and Key Reasons
According to ICC sources:
- 14 of 16 ICC Board members voted against the relocation request
- Only Bangladesh and Pakistan supported the move
- The ICC has given the BCB one additional day to confirm its final position
The ICC said altering venues at this late stage would undermine the integrity and neutrality of ICC events and set an undesirable precedent for future tournaments.
Security Assessments Find No Threat
The ICC stated that it reviewed multiple security assessments, including independent evaluations, all of which concluded there is no verified or credible threat to Bangladesh players in India.
- Venue-specific security plans were shared with the BCB
- Assurances include layered protection by federal and state agencies
- The ICC said it held sustained and constructive dialogue with Bangladesh officials
Schedule Changes Not Feasible
The world body noted that making last-minute changes would cause significant logistical disruption for teams and fans worldwide. Venue and scheduling decisions, the ICC said, are based on objective threat assessments and host guarantees, and apply uniformly to all teams.
What Happens If Bangladesh Pull Out?
If Bangladesh decide to withdraw from the tournament, Scotland could replace them based on current rankings.
Bangladesh are placed in Group C alongside:
- West Indies
- England
- Italy
- Nepal
The BCB had proposed moving all four group matches to Sri Lanka, where select marquee fixtures are already scheduled under existing ICC arrangements.
Background to the Dispute
The situation escalated after Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman was removed from Kolkata Knight Riders’ IPL squad, following which the BCB cited security concerns and national sentiment to oppose travel to India.
ICC Stands Firm
Reiterating its position, the ICC said that without independent findings indicating a security risk, it cannot relocate fixtures. The governing body emphasized that fairness, neutrality, and governance integrity must be upheld for global events.
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