Bangladesh Cricket Board Requests 48 Hours to Consult Government on T20 World Cup Participation

Dhaka, Jan 22: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has requested 48 hours from the International Cricket Council (ICC) to consult the government and decide on playing their matches in India during the upcoming T20 World Cup, a report by Telecom Asia Sport said.

The plea comes after the ICC rejected Bangladesh’s request to relocate their matches, following limited support from other cricket boards except the Pakistan Cricket Board during a virtual 16 member board meeting. The ICC has set a final deadline, giving Bangladesh 24 hours to confirm participation; failure to respond could see Scotland replace them in the tournament scheduled from February 7 to March 8.

A BCB official told the media, “The Bangladesh players want to play the World Cup. The government also wants us to participate, but we are concerned about the safety of our players in India. We suggested shifting matches to Sri Lanka or swapping with Ireland or Zimbabwe, but Sri Lanka declined.”

The official added that after the ICC vote, the board requested one final opportunity to brief the government before conveying a decision. “We don’t want to put pressure on the government. We will discuss all options and later inform the ICC,” the official said.

The government’s final decision, the source noted, would weigh the well being of players alongside broader considerations, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation of the situation.

Over the weekend, BCB officials held discussions with ICC representatives in Dhaka but no agreement was reached. The request to shift matches was partly prompted by political tensions between India and Bangladesh, alongside the BCCI’s directive to IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur Rahman for the 2026 Indian Premier League.

BCB officials have already informed senior government authorities of the latest developments and await directives before announcing the final call on participation in the T20 World Cup.