Bangladesh wanted a way out. The ICC gave them a reality check.
In a bold move, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) formally requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to shift their T20 World Cup matches out of India. The request came amidst rising tension between the BCB and the BCCI, following the sudden exit of star pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL — reportedly at the request of the Indian board. Mustafizur later added fuel to the fire by signing up for the Pakistan Super League after an 8-year gap.
Sensing friction, BCB seemed to believe skipping India could be justified. But the ICC, in a virtual meeting, made it very clear: the tournament schedule remains unchanged. If Bangladesh refuses to play matches in India, they risk forfeiting points. No ifs, no buts.
This isn’t the first time a board has tried to play politics with World Cup logistics. In the 1996 ODI World Cup, both Australia and the West Indies refused to travel to Sri Lanka over security concerns — and were on the verge of replacement. In 2016, Australia pulled out of the U-19 World Cup in Bangladesh, citing safety fears, and Ireland took their spot. The message from ICC over the years has remained consistent: the tournament will go on—with or without you.
For Bangladesh, the move feels more symbolic than strategic. Their tension with the BCCI may be valid in their eyes, but using it to justify a location-based boycott in a global tournament was always going to be a hard sell. The ICC’s response simply reinforces that World Cups aren’t run on sentiment or bilateral politics—they run on structure, commitment, and clarity.
The BCB now finds itself cornered. Pulling out would not just mean losing points but could damage their standing in global cricket. The ICC, for its part, has drawn a firm line—there will be no special treatment.
At the heart of this drama is a mix of cricket, geopolitics, and a pacer caught in the middle. But in the end, the rules don’t bend for emotion. Bangladesh has a choice to make: pad up and play in India—or watch their campaign unravel without even stepping onto the field.
Also Watch: Why Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma missed latest Vijay Hazare Trophy match
