Bangladesh has taken its boldest stance yet ahead of the T20 World Cup, refusing to set foot in India despite a direct request from the International Cricket Council.
In a video conference on Tuesday, the Bangladesh Cricket Board repeated that security concerns remain unresolved and that no amount of pressure will force a change of course.
BCB President Aminul Islam Bulbul led the delegation, joined by Vice Presidents Md Shakawat Hossain and Faruk Ahmed, Cricket Operations Chairman Nazmul Abedin and CEO Nizam Uddin Chowdhury.
Their position was clear from the outset. Bangladesh will not travel, and the ICC must consider hosting their matches elsewhere.
According to officials present, the BCB emphasised that this is not a political manoeuvre or a negotiation tactic. They argued that recent regional developments have sharpened security anxieties, and until the board is convinced the team can travel and compete safely, the decision is final.
The ICC pushed back, reminding the BCB that the tournament schedule has already been published and altering venues at this stage would trigger operational chaos. Even so, they urged Bangladesh to reconsider, hoping to avoid a precedent where a full member pulls out of a global event over security fears without an agreed alternative.
But the BCB held firm. Board representatives said they have conducted internal assessments and concluded that the risk is too high. They also indicated that several senior players privately expressed unease about playing in India under the current climate.
Despite the stalemate, both sides agreed to keep the door open. Discussions will continue in the coming days as officials search for a compromise that protects Bangladesh’s security concerns without derailing the wider tournament.
For now, the deadlock has overshadowed the build-up to the World Cup. The ICC wants Bangladesh in India. Bangladesh wants a venue shift. And the cricket world is bracing for a showdown that could reshape how global tournaments handle security disputes.