United News of Bangladesh

Australia will tour Pakistan for a three-match T20 International series in Lahore as part of their preparations for the ICC T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Wednesday. The day-night matches will be played at the Gaddafi Stadium on January 29, 31 and February 1. Australia are scheduled to arrive in Lahore on January 28 before both teams depart for the global tournament. While Australia will play their World Cup group matches in India, Pakistan will be based in Sri Lanka. Read more: ICC Tournament History: Teams That Declined to Tour Host Countries This will be Australia’s first T20 tour of Pakistan since April 2022, when they last visited the country for a Test series followed by a white-ball series. The Australians, however, did feature in some Champions Trophy matches in Pakistan last year. Meanwhile, Pakistan selectors are set to meet head coach Mike Hesson and captain Salman Ali Agha later this week to finalise the squad for the Australia series and the T20 World Cup. The squad is expected to be announced next week after approval from PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi.Source: NDTV

The crisis within Bangladesh cricket has reached a boiling point as the country’s cricketers have issued a stern ultimatum— if Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Director M Nazmul Islam does not resign by 1:00 PM on Thursday, players will boycott all forms of cricket immediately. The announcement was made on Wednesday night by Mohammad Mithun, President of the Cricketers' Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB), during a press conference held via Zoom. The players' revolt stems from a series of inflammatory comments made by Nazmul Islam, who also serves as the Chairman of the BCB Finance Committee. Tensions flared after Nazmul recently labeled former captain Tamim Iqbal an “Indian agent” in a Facebook post. The situation deteriorated further today when Nazmul made disparaging remarks regarding player compensation in the event of a World Cup boycott. “If they go (to the World Cup) and achieve nothing, do we ask for the crores of taka we spent on them back?” Nazmul questioned, addressing some reporters. He further antagonised the players by asking, “If the board doesn't exist, will the cricketers exist?"” “You all know what has been happening over the last few days,” CWAB President Mithun said. “First it was against one person, and now the way all cricketers are being spoken about... the language being used is never acceptable. We do not expect this. A director should be careful with his choice of words. What he said has hurt the entire cricket fraternity,” he added.  Mithun declared that if Nazmul does not step down before the start of tomorrow’s Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match, the players will go on strike. "If he does not resign before the match tomorrow, we will boycott all forms of cricket," Mithun confirmed. BPL action heats up with Chattogram leading the table The ultimatum casts a shadow over the 12th edition of the BPL. The Noakhali Express are scheduled to face the Chattogram Royals at 1:00 PM tomorrow, followed by a match between the Rajshahi Warriors and Sylhet Titans in the evening. Attempting to de-escalate the situation prior to the ultimatum, the BCB issued a press release earlier in the evening. The board stated that the “personal comments” of any director do not reflect the BCB's official stance and expressed regret if anyone was hurt by recent statements. However, the press release appears to have done little to quell the players’ anger.

As the BCB and the ICC continue talks on whether Bangladesh will play their matches at the 2026 T20 World Cup in India amid security concerns, it is worth recalling other occasions when teams opted out of playing ICC events in host nations. The Bangladesh Cricket Board and the ICC are weighing options regarding Bangladesh’s participation in the 2026 T20 World Cup in India, citing safety issues. Below are five past instances in which teams refused to play ICC tournaments in host countries. 1996 ODI World Cup: Australia, West Indies stay away from Sri Lanka Ahead of the 1996 ODI World Cup, co-host Sri Lanka was facing a civil war, and a bomb blast in Colombo in January—just weeks before the tournament—intensified security fears. Read more: BCB to continue ‘constructive engagement’ with ICC for T20 World Cup solution In a show of support, a combined India-Pakistan XI played a friendly against Sri Lanka in Colombo before the event. Australia and West Indies, however, declined to travel to Colombo for their group matches against Sri Lanka and forfeited points as a result. Sri Lanka progressed comfortably to the quarter-finals, as did Australia and West Indies, and later defeated Australia in the final in Lahore. 2003 ODI World Cup: England avoid Zimbabwe; New Zealand skip Kenya The first Africa-hosted ODI World Cup in 2003—co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya—saw two teams refuse to play in host nations. England did not travel to Harare to play Zimbabwe, citing opposition by the UK government under Tony Blair to Robert Mugabe’s regime. New Zealand declined to play Kenya in Nairobi due to security concerns following a bombing in Mombasa months earlier. Both teams asked for their matches to be relocated, but the ICC rejected the requests and awarded walkovers to Zimbabwe and Kenya. England exited in the first round, while New Zealand advanced to the Super Sixes. Kenya, benefiting from the forfeiture, went on to reach the semi-finals. 2009 T20 World Cup: Zimbabwe withdraw Relations between Zimbabwe and the UK remained strained, raising doubts over whether Zimbabwean players would receive visas to travel to England for the 2009 T20 World Cup. In July 2008, the ICC and Zimbabwe reached what they termed a “win-win” agreement. Zimbabwe withdrew from the tournament “in the larger interest of the game,” saying they did not want to be unwelcome participants, but received their full participation fee. Scotland, an Associate nation, replaced them after qualifying. 2016 Under-19 World Cup: Australia pull out Australia had already withdrawn from a bilateral series in Bangladesh in October 2015 due to security concerns. By the time of the 2016 Under-19 World Cup, their position was unchanged, citing a continued “threat to Australian interests in Bangladesh.” The ICC said it respected Australia’s decision, though it was disappointed. Ireland took Australia’s place in the tournament. 2025 Champions Trophy: India decline to tour Pakistan The 2025 Champions Trophy was set to be Pakistan’s first ICC event in 29 years after being confirmed as hosts in November 2021. Uncertainty persisted over India’s participation, given the strained relations between the two countries and India’s last tour of Pakistan dating back to 2008. Read More: BCB rejects ICC’s plea to reconsider India tour to play T20 World Cup Although Pakistan travelled to India for the 2023 ODI World Cup, India eventually announced it would not visit Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, citing a lack of government clearance. After prolonged discussions, a compromise for the 2024–2027 ICC cycle was agreed: matches between India and Pakistan in tournaments hosted by either country would be held at neutral venues. Consequently, India played their 2025 Champions Trophy matches in Dubai and went on to win the tournament. With input from ESPNcricinfo

USA fast bowler Ali Khan has revealed that his visa application for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India has been denied, casting doubt on his participation less than a month before the tournament begins. The Pakistan-born cricketer broke the news on Monday via an Instagram story, sharing a photo with the caption, “India visa denied but KFC for the win”. The denial serves as a significant blow to the USA team's preparations. The squad's Group A itinerary is heavily based in India, with a marquee matchup against the hosts scheduled for February 7 at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, followed by fixtures in Chennai against the Netherlands and Namibia. Read More: Australia’s first Muslim cricketer Khawaja announces retirement after SCG Test Losing a frontline seamer this close to the event could force the management into difficult last-minute squad reshuffles. Khan may not be the only player affecting the American camp. Reports suggest that other teammates of Pakistani origin, including wicketkeeper-batter Shayan Jahangir and bowlers Ehsan Adil and Mohammad Mohsin, are facing similar administrative hurdles. Visa processing for players with Pakistani roots often involves additional vetting for events in India. Neither USA Cricket nor the ICC has issued an official statement, leaving it unclear if an appeal is possible or if the denial is final.

The uncertainty surrounding Bangladesh’s participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 has deepened after a high-stakes video conference between the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) ended without a breakthrough on Tuesday (January 13, 2026). Despite the global body’s request to reconsider the boycott, the BCB remained firm in its decision not to travel to India, citing unresolved security concerns. In the meeting held this afternoon, a BCB delegation led by President Aminul Islam and Chief Executive Nizam Uddin Chowdhury reiterated the board’s demand to relocate their matches to a neutral venue. The ICC, however, highlighted the logistical rigidity of the tournament, noting that the itinerary has already been announced and urging the board to soften its stance. BCB to continue ‘constructive engagement’ with ICC for T20 World Cup solution “The Board’s position remains unchanged,” the BCB confirmed in a media release following the discussion. “The BCB reaffirmed its position regarding the decision not to travel to India... (and) reiterated its request for the ICC to consider relocating Bangladesh's matches outside India.” This diplomatic deadlock comes just a day after Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul publicly slammed the ICC for what he termed an “absurd” security assessment. Nazrul revealed that the ICC had identified pacer Mustafizur Rahman’s inclusion in the squad as a potential security risk—a claim stemming from the recent controversy where the Kolkata Knight Riders were allegedly forced to release the bowler due to “anti-Bangladesh” sentiment in India. ICC to BCB: Play in India or forfeit points While the ICC pressed for adherence to the schedule, the BCB emphasised that the safety of its players and staff remains paramount. Both parties agreed to continue discussions to find a “possible solution,” but with the board unwilling to compromise on its security demands and the ICC reluctant to alter the fixture list, the fate of Bangladesh’s World Cup campaign hangs in the balance.

Bangladesh’s participation in the T20 World Cup hit fresh controversy on Monday after Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul said the International Cricket Council (ICC) had formally flagged pacer Mustafizur Rahman as a potential security risk. Speaking at a press conference at the Bangladesh Football Federation, Asif Nazrul disclosed that the global body’s security department sent a letter to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) citing three specific factors that would heighten risks for the team in India. ICC may reject Sri Lanka move, will offer Bangladesh southern India venues instead According to the Sports Adviser, the ICC said the presence of Mustafizur in the squad, Bangladeshi supporters wearing national jerseys in public, and the proximity of Bangladesh's upcoming national elections are the security risk for the Bangladesh team.   Asif Nazrul vehemently rejected the ICC’s assessment, labeling the observations as ‘bizarre’ and ‘illogical’.  He argued that expecting a nation to drop its best bowler, forbid fans from wearing team colors, or alter an election schedule for a cricket tournament is completely unrealistic. Bangladesh standoff a litmus test' for ICC chair Jay Shah, reports NDTV According to the Adviser, the letter itself serves as undeniable proof that the environment in India is currently hostile and unsafe for Bangladeshi cricketers. He pointed to a 16-month-long ‘anti-Bangladesh campaign’ and the prevailing ‘radical communal situation’ in India as the root causes of the tension. The Adviser criticised the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for allegedly bowing to “radical communal forces” by forcing the Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafiz, a move he described as evidence that no part of India is currently safe for the team. BCB to continue ‘constructive engagement’ with ICC for T20 World Cup solution Addressing potential solutions, Adviser Nazrul welcomed recent reports suggesting Pakistan as an alternative host, stating that playing in Pakistan or the UAE would be acceptable, provided the matches are moved out of India. He sharply rebuked the governance of cricket, asserting that no single country should hold a monopoly over the sport and that if the ICC is truly a global organisation, it must grant Bangladesh the opportunity to play in a neutral venue like Sri Lanka.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is poised to formally respond to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) between Monday and Tuesday regarding the ongoing World Cup venue standoff. However, reports indicate the global body is unlikely to accept Dhaka’s demand to move their matches to Sri Lanka. Instead, the ICC is expected to propose shifting the games to Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram as a compromise. The BCB had officially requested the transfer out of India citing "security concerns," a move triggered by the controversial release of pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders squad. Bangladesh is currently scheduled to play their group-stage fixtures in Kolkata and Mumbai—hubs that the board now views as politically sensitive. Read More: ICC to BCB: Play in India or forfeit points This proposed solution faces immediate hurdles. BCB President Aminul Islam has previously signaled that shifting to Chennai may still be unacceptable to the Bangladesh government, which is reportedly waiting for direct communication from the Indian government regarding security assurances. To counter the “unsafe environment” narrative, the ICC is expected to highlight the presence of Bangladeshi umpire Sharfuddoula Saikat, who successfully officiated the India vs. New Zealand ODI in Vadodara on Sunday without incident. The governing body is likely to use his participation as evidence that Bangladeshi representatives can travel and work safely in India. With less than four weeks remaining before teams arrive for the tournament, the ICC is pressing for a swift resolution to the current deadlock.

While the Bangladesh cricket team refuses to set foot in India due to security concerns, a lone Bangladeshi official is currently at the center of the action on Indian soil. Sharfuddoula, the first Bangladeshi umpire on the ICC Elite Panel, officiated as the TV umpire during the first ODI between India and New Zealand in Vadodara on Sunday. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has officially informed the ICC that the national team will not travel to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup, citing “growing concerns regarding the safety and security of the Bangladesh contingent”. This boycott follows the diplomatic fallout triggered by the Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) removal of pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their squad—a move that led the Bangladesh government to ban IPL broadcasts for the first time since the league's inception in 2008. Despite the hostile political climate, Sharfuddoula’s appointment proceeded under standard ICC regulations. According to Clause 2.1.4, the ICC appoints one neutral umpire for ODIs from the Elite or International Panel. Bangladeshi umpire Sharfuddoula officiating in the Ashes  Since Sharfuddoula is neither Indian nor Kiwi, his role as a neutral official remains valid, even as his home board demands “man-to-man” security guarantees for its players.    

While headlines over the weekend suggested a sudden shift in the venue drama of Bangladesh’s matches in the upcoming T20 World Cup, the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) recent overture regarding Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup matches is more of a strategic contingency than a confirmed relocation plan. Contrary to rumors of an immediate venue swap, PCB sources clarified that Pakistan is positioning itself as a “Plan B.” The offer to host the Liton Das-led side is specifically on the table as an alternative “if Sri Lankan venues are unavailable”, as Pakistani media reported.  Pakistan’s venues are described as “ready and fully equipped,” with the board leveraging its recent experience hosting the Champions Trophy 2025 to showcase operational readiness. This offer arrives at a critical juncture in the deepening rift between the BCB and BCCI. Read More: Women’s World Cup Cricket: Bangladesh to start gearing up from Thursday The standoff began with the abrupt removal of pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders squad— which Bangladesh’s Information Ministry termed “illogical” before banning the IPL broadcast in protest. Since then, the situation has hardened into a matter of principle. Bangladesh’s Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul has explicitly stated that the team will not compromise on “national honor” or security by traveling to India. Under the original schedule, Bangladesh was set to play three group matches in Kolkata and one in Mumbai. By offering its stadiums, the PCB is attempting to capitalize on the “strained relations” between its neighbors, presenting Lahore or Karachi as viable neutral grounds. Ultimately, while Pakistan has signaled it can host the games, the final decision remains with the ICC, which must now weigh this new option against the BCB's primary preference for Sri Lanka. According to the latest development, a decision may arrive on Monday from the ICC.

The escalating standoff regarding Bangladesh’s refusal to travel to India for the T20 World Cup has placed ICC Chairman Jay Shah under severe pressure, according to a report by an Indian media outlet. The report by NDTV suggests that Shah faces a “stern test” as he attempts to broker a solution during a scheduled meeting with BCCI officials on Sunday. From Logistics to National Honor According to the NDTV report, the complexion of the crisis changed significantly following a second letter sent by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to the ICC. While the first letter simply requested a venue shift to Sri Lanka, the second letter framed the issue as a matter of “national honor,” triggered largely by the abrupt exclusion of pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL due to demands from “extremist groups”. Bangladesh is reportedly no longer satisfied with general security assurances; the board is demanding “man-to-man” personal security guarantees for every player, coaching staff member, and official. The message to the ICC is clear: this is no longer just about safety, but about dignity. The report also suggested that a quick resolution appears unlikely. Jay Shah’s immediate task is to review the existing security plans with the BCCI and ICC operations teams to understand why Bangladesh feels their concerns were dismissed or if previous communications lacked “empathy”. NDTV notes that the ICC cannot simply impose a decision on the BCB; any solution must be one that Dhaka accepts willingly to maintain the tournament's credibility. Furthermore, excluding Bangladesh—a team that qualified on merit—is not an option, as it would lead to legal and political entanglements, require a vote within the ICC board, and potentially destabilize the Asian Cricket Council. The situation has been further complicated by the public stance of Bangladesh’s Youth and Sports Adviser, Asif Nazrul. His open declaration that playing in India under current conditions would be a blow to national pride has hardened Dhaka's position.