The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Wednesday (January 07, 2026) dismissed media reports claiming it had received an ultimatum from the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding its participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup in India, and said it will continue ‘constructive engagement’ with ICC for T20 World Cup solution.
In an official statement issued on Wednesday, the board termed such reports as ‘completely false and unfounded,’ clarifying that the communication received from the global body was cooperative in nature.
The clarification comes amidst a deepening diplomatic and sporting crisis triggered by the exclusion of pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL, which led Bangladesh to request a venue change for their World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka citing security concerns.
Read more: ICC to BCB: Play in India or forfeit points
“The BCB categorically states that such claims (of an ultimatum) ... do not reflect the nature or content of the communication received from the ICC,” the media release read.
The board confirmed that the ICC has formally responded to Bangladesh's concerns regarding the safety and security of the national team.
According to the BCB, the ICC has reiterated its commitment to ensuring Bangladesh's ‘full and uninterrupted participation’ and has expressed a willingness to work closely with the board on detailed security planning.
The BCB emphasized that it would continue ‘constructive engagement’ with the ICC to reach an “affable and practical solution.”
This diplomatic tone comes as a slight shift from the hardline stance seen earlier in the week, where government officials had signaled a potential boycott of the tournament if the venue was not changed.
Read more: BCB eyes ICC intervention for World Cup security following Mustafizur’s IPL exit
However, the board reiterated that the safety and well-being of the players remain its ‘highest priority.’