Bangladesh has officially decided not to participate in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup in India after the International Cricket Council rejected its request to shift the venue, citing unresolved security concerns. The firm stance taken by the Bangladesh government has effectively cleared the path for Scotland to replace the team in the global tournament, which is scheduled to begin on February 7.
The ICC had issued an ultimatum to Bangladesh on Wednesday, asking the country to either confirm its willingness to travel to India or risk being replaced. The world body maintained that its security assessment found no credible threat to the safety of Bangladesh’s players, officials, journalists, or supporters. Bangladesh was given time until Thursday to respond.
After holding discussions with national team players, Bangladesh’s Sports Advisor Asif Nazrul announced that the country would not travel to India under the current circumstances. He said the security situation had not changed and stressed that the concerns were not based on theoretical analysis. According to Nazrul, the government could not be convinced that the safety of the entire delegation, including players, media personnel, and spectators, could be fully ensured.
Bangladesh had proposed Sri Lanka as an alternative venue and expressed hope that the ICC would reconsider its position. Nazrul said the team was prepared to play and had no intention of withdrawing from the tournament entirely, but insisted that the government must prioritize the safety of its citizens. He described the decision as a matter of state responsibility rather than a purely sporting call.
The Bangladesh team was scheduled to play four matches in India, three in Kolkata and one in Mumbai. Concerns intensified after fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was removed from the Indian Premier League on the BCCI’s instructions due to unspecified “developments,” an episode Bangladesh authorities believe reflects broader regional sensitivities.
The ICC, however, dismissed the security argument, stating that Bangladesh Cricket Board officials were repeatedly linking participation in the World Cup to a single, isolated, and unrelated domestic league issue. In its statement, the ICC said it could not relocate matches without independent security findings that materially compromised safety, warning that such a move would disrupt logistics, affect other teams and fans, and undermine the neutrality and integrity of its governance.
Nazrul also addressed questions about the players’ stance, saying they had been briefed on the government’s reasoning and appeared to understand the situation. He declined to disclose details of their feedback, citing the need to allow players to speak freely. The decision, however, is expected to have financial implications for the cricketers, who stand to lose significant earnings by missing the tournament.
Tensions within Bangladesh cricket administration have already surfaced. Former captain Tamim Iqbal and current Test skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto had urged administrators to prioritize player welfare and seek a balanced solution. Iqbal faced backlash from a senior Bangladesh Cricket Board official for advising against a hard-line approach, highlighting internal divisions.
The controversy deepened after BCB director Nazmul Islam stated that players would not be compensated, arguing that they had failed to deliver strong results in past ICC events. The comment triggered strong reactions from players and officials alike, eventually forcing Islam to resign as head of the board’s finance committee.
With Bangladesh stepping aside, Scotland stands next in line based on team rankings and is expected to be offered the vacant spot. Bangladesh authorities warned that their absence would be a significant loss for world cricket, given the country’s massive fan base of nearly 200 million people.
The episode has sparked wider debate over player safety, political considerations in international sport, and the ICC’s approach to handling security-related concerns, raising questions that could influence future global tournaments.