Bangladesh has confirmed it will not travel to India for its matches in the upcoming T20 World Cup, citing unresolved security concerns. The government said the decision is final and will not be reversed under any circumstances.
Bangladesh’s Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul made the statement after meeting national team players in Dhaka. He said player safety is the top priority. According to him, there is “no scope” for compromise on security matters.
Nazrul said Bangladesh had formally asked the International Cricket Council to change the venue. He claimed the request was not reviewed fairly. He added that the ICC failed to properly address Bangladesh’s concerns.
“We believe the ICC did not act with fairness,” Nazrul said. He stressed that Bangladesh still expects justice from the global cricket body. However, he did not share specific details about the security assessments.
Despite the stance from Dhaka, the ICC has said it will proceed with the T20 World Cup as planned. The tournament is scheduled to be hosted jointly by India and Sri Lanka. The ICC has made it clear that Bangladesh’s matches will not be moved from India.
The firm position has created uncertainty around Bangladesh’s participation. Officials said the government’s decision remains unchanged even if the ICC continues without accommodation.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board has not fully closed the door. BCB officials said they will approach the ICC again. They hope to find a solution that allows Bangladesh to stay in the tournament.
Former Bangladesh captain Aminul Islam said Sri Lanka could be a suitable alternative. He said Bangladesh wants its T20 World Cup matches moved there. He expressed hope that the ICC may still allow the change.
Bangladesh officials said their request is based on unresolved safety issues. They believe player security must come before scheduling concerns. Sri Lanka is viewed as the most practical neutral option.
The ICC, however, rejected claims of security risks. In a press release, the governing body said Bangladesh faces no credible threat in India. The ICC said it shared independent security reviews with the BCB.
An ICC spokesperson said detailed venue-level plans were also provided. He said host authorities gave formal safety assurances. According to the ICC, all assessments found no verifiable danger to the Bangladesh team.
The standoff could affect tournament planning. Scheduling, broadcasting, and regional cricket relations may all face challenges. The situation has also raised questions about coordination between cricket boards and host nations.
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For now, Bangladesh remains firm. Officials said the team will only take part if security concerns are addressed. Approval of an alternative venue remains their key demand.
