Play in India or Face a Walkover: ICC Issues Ultimatum to Bangladesh

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Play in India or Face a Walkover: ICC Issues Ultimatum to Bangladesh

Sports Desk, Rtv News

Publish : 07 Jan 2026, 09:50 AM

Photo: Collected

Tensions between the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) have reached a critical point ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup.

According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, the ICC has rejected Bangladesh’s request to move their matches out of India, stating the team must either travel to India or risk forfeiting their points via walkovers.

The dispute stems from security concerns raised by the BCB following the forced removal of Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL under the direction of the BCCI.

Contradictory Reports from Virtual Meeting

The ICC and BCB held a virtual meeting on Tuesday (January 6) to discuss the BCB's formal request to relocate their matches to Sri Lanka.

While sources indicate the ICC has issued a "play or forfeit" ultimatum, the BCB has officially denied receiving such a stern warning.

Neither the BCCI nor the BCB has issued a formal public statement regarding the specifics of Tuesday's discussion.

The meeting was prompted by a letter sent by the BCB last Sunday, asking the governing body to "consider" shifting Bangladesh’s fixtures due to a perceived hostile environment.

The Conflict Over Mustafizur Rahman

The roots of the tension lie in the current IPL season. Mustafizur Rahman was the sole Bangladeshi player selected, purchased by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for a record 9.20 crore Rupees.

However, following protests from extremist groups in India—who cited alleged incidents regarding minorities in Bangladesh—the BCCI reportedly directed KKR to drop Mustafizur from the squad.

BCCI Secretary Debjit Saikia confirmed the decision to the media but offered no official reason.

Notably, the IPL Governing Council reportedly did not hold a formal meeting on the matter, raising questions about the transparency of the decision.

Tournament Schedule at Risk

The 20-team T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, is set to begin in less than a month (February 7 – March 8).

Bangladesh is placed in Group C, with their initial schedule heavily concentrated in India:

Feb 7: vs. West Indies (Kolkata)
Feb 9: vs. Italy (Kolkata)
Feb 14: vs. England (Kolkata)
Feb 17: vs. Nepal (Mumbai)

With the tournament opener fast approaching, the standoff places Bangladesh's participation in jeopardy.

If the BCB holds its ground on security concerns and the ICC refuses to budge on the venue, the tournament could face a major logistical and diplomatic crisis.

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