United News of Bangladesh

The Bangladesh government has officially confirmed that the national cricket team will not travel to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup, citing ‘genuine security risks' amidst a volatile regional political climate. The announcement made by the Sports Adviser, Asif Nazrul, on Thursday, effectively defies the ultimatum set by the International Cricket Council (ICC) just a day earlier. Speaking to the media, the Sports Adviser made it clear that the safety of the delegation is non-negotiable. “Bangladesh is not travelling to India to play the World Cup due to the security risk—this is a decision made by the Bangladesh government. No other entity has any rights to take this decision,” he said. Read more: Travel to India for T20 World Cup or be replaced: ICC warns Bangladesh This statement overrides the Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) attempts to negotiate and directly challenges the ICC's insistence on the original schedule. Addressing the potential financial and sporting repercussions of a boycott, the Adviser argued that national dignity and human safety carry a higher value. He urged the public and media to consider the alternative cost of capitulation. “You should also consider what the damage would be if we played the World Cup,” he said. “Pushing our players, fans, and journalists into a genuine risk amidst this regional political situation, with our heads bowed down... is a damage that must be weighed.” Despite the ICC's vote on Wednesday to replace Bangladesh with Scotland if they refuse to travel, the government remains hopeful for a last-minute diplomatic solution involving a venue change. Read more: India wins T20 series against New Zealand by 48 runs The Adviser insisted that the demand to play in Sri Lanka is valid and rooted in history. “We still hope the ICC will do justice,” he said. “There are many precedents in the world where matches are played at a different venue due to security risks. We have not given up hope yet.”

The diplomatic crisis surrounding the T20 World Cup has intensified just hours before a prospective deadline, with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) formally intervening to support Bangladesh's refusal to play in India. On Tuesday, as ESPNcrinfo reported, the PCB sent a letter to the International Cricket Council (ICC) and its board members, backing the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) stance that the political climate in India poses a security risk. This move comes just a day before the ICC board is scheduled to meet on Wednesday to make a final call on Bangladesh's participation in the tournament. The ICC has called an urgent board meeting for Wednesday to resolve the impasse, which threatens to derail the event less than three weeks before it begins. While the timing of the PCB’s email has raised eyebrows, sources suggest it is unlikely to alter the ICC's firm position. Read more: Bangladesh not to accept any illogical ICC conditions under Indian pressure: Sports Adviser The global body has repeatedly conveyed to the BCB that the World Cup schedule will not be changed to move Bangladesh's matches to co-host Sri Lanka. Both sides have remained deadlocked, with the ICC insisting on the original itinerary and the BCB, backed by their government, refusing to travel to India. Speculation regarding Pakistan's involvement has been rife for days, with unverified reports suggesting the PCB might review its own participation contingent on the outcome of the Bangladesh issue. While the PCB has not publicly commented, their email confirms a unified front with Bangladesh. This diplomatic row originated when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) instructed the Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL, citing worsening political ties—a move that prompted the Bangladesh government to bar the national team from playing in India. Read more: T20 World Cup: PCB suspends preparations, Pakistan signals Support for Bangladesh

Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul on Tuesday said Bangladesh will not accept any unreasonable conditions if the ICC creates pressure on the country under influence from the Indian Cricket Control  Board. “If the International Cricket Council (ICC) bows to pressure from the Indian Cricket Board and tries to impose any illogical condition on us, we will not accept,” he told reporters at the Secretariat. He also said Bangladesh cannot be forced to travel to India to play the T20 World Cup under pressure. Read more: T20 World Cup: PCB suspends preparations, Pakistan signals Support for Bangladesh Asked about a report by French news agency AFP which said Scotland would replace Bangladesh in the World Cup if the team refuses to go to India, the adviser said they have not officially heard any such decision. “There are precedents in international cricket, when India refused to play in Pakistan the ICC changed the venue. We have reasonably asked for a venue change,” he added. Bangladesh recently informed the ICC that they would not travel to India for the tournament due to political tensions and requested their matches be moved to another venue. BCB rejects ICC’s plea to reconsider India tour to play T20 World Cup A final decision on Bangladesh’s participation and travel to India is expected by Wednesday. The ICC has not clarified how it would select a replacement team if a participant withdraws. Tensions escalated recently after Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman was dropped from the IPL due to security threats, a concern reportedly validated by the ICC’s own “Internal Threat Assessment Report”.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has not approached Scotland about replacing Bangladesh at next month’s men’s T20 World Cup, though Scottish players say they would be ready if needed. Bangladesh recently informed the ICC that they would not travel to India for the tournament due to political tensions and requested their matches be moved to another venue. As the highest-ranked team not in the tournament, Scotland could be considered if Bangladesh withdraws, but Cricket Scotland has not been contacted and is not initiating talks, out of respect for the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). Read more: Bangladesh not to accept any illogical ICC conditions under Indian pressure: Sports Adviser Scotland missed out on the 2026 T20 World Cup after finishing fourth in last summer’s Europe Qualifier, with the Netherlands and Italy claiming the two available spots. Their players are currently training ahead of a one-day international tri-series with Namibia and Oman in Windhoek in March. A final decision on Bangladesh’s participation and travel to India is expected by Wednesday. The ICC has not clarified how it would select a replacement team if a participant withdraws. Previously, Scotland replaced Zimbabwe at the 2009 T20 World Cup after Zimbabwe pulled out for political reasons. With current T20 World Cup qualifications conducted regionally, any replacement decision is likely to be at the ICC’s discretion. Scotland is currently ranked 14th in the ICC T20 rankings. The ICC could also move Bangladesh’s matches to a less politically sensitive area in India or transfer their games to co-host Sri Lanka. Reports suggest the BCB has requested a group swap with Ireland, whose matches are scheduled in Sri Lanka. Cricket Ireland said its schedule remains unchanged but it is monitoring the situation closely. Read more: Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup deadlock: Ireland rejects group swap, Pakistan sides with BCB #With inputs from BBC