The clock is ticking for Bangladesh's spot in the T20 World Cup, with the ICC setting a firm January 21 deadline for the BCB to confirm if their team will head to India.
This comes after intense back-and-forth talks in Dhaka on Saturday, where the BCB doubled down on their demand to compete, but only in co-host Sri Lanka, not across the border.
As per an ESPNCricinfo report, ICC has now clearly instructed Bangladesh Cricket Board to convey their final call, on which the apex body will move forward. By no means the BCB will get their wish as a multifaceted organizational and logistical trouble is associated with that.
The standoff, now dragging into its third week since the BCB first raised alarms on January 4, stems from deep security worries about
sending players to India. Bangladesh sits in Group C, with their opener against West Indies set for February 7 in Kolkata, also the site of their next two group fixtures before wrapping up in Mumbai. Yet the ICC isn't budging on the schedule, rejecting pleas to shift them to Group B or tweak venues.
BCB proposed a Group C move replacing Ireland, as all of this group's matches are being played in Sri Lanka. But ICC has already turned down that proposal.
Tensions ignited last month when the BCCI directed Kolkata Knight Riders to drop Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 roster, citing unspecified "recent developments. " Bangladesh's government retaliated by banning IPL broadcasts nationwide, prompting the BCB to formally notify the ICC they won't play in India. Despite an ICC-backed security advisory labeling India's overall risk as medium-to-high but with no targeted threats to teams and explicit assurances of safety, the BCB remains resolute in their stance.
Over the last week or so, various Bangladesh officials have openly threatened to boycott T20 World Cup if their demand is not met, reiterating their stance to not play in India.
