T20 World Cup | ICC and BCB likely to thrash out impasse by this weekend

The impasse between the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) over Bangladesh’s participation in next month’s Men’s T20 World Cup in India is likely to be resolved before the weekend.

On Wednesday, the BCB stated that the ICC has responded favourably to its request to relocate Bangladesh’s matches outside India.

“The BCB has received response from the ICC regarding the Board’s expressed concerns over the safety and security of the Bangladesh national cricket team in India for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, including the request for relocation of the team’s matches,” the BCB said in a statement.

“In its communication, the ICC has reiterated its commitment to ensuring the full and uninterrupted participation of the Bangladesh team in the tournament. The ICC has conveyed its willingness to work closely with the BCB to address the concerns raised and has assured that the Board’s inputs will be welcomed and duly considered as part of the detailed security planning for the event.”

The Hindu understands that senior ICC officials and top executives held a conference call with BCB representatives on Tuesday to discuss the board’s communication over the weekend, in which it expressed its inability to travel to India citing safety concerns.

The BCB’s stance came a day after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) asked Kolkata Knight Riders to withdraw Mustafizur Rahman — the only Bangladeshi cricketer signed for IPL 2026 — from the Indian Premier League.

The BCB also denied media reports suggesting that the ICC had issued an ultimatum regarding Bangladesh’s participation in the event. However, The Hindu understands that ICC officials conveyed during discussions that altering the tournament schedule would be nearly impossible at this stage. Instead, a comprehensive review of security and logistical arrangements could be offered to address the BCB’s concerns.

It is understood that a final resolution is expected to be reached on or before Sunday.

“The BCB remains firmly committed to placing the highest priority on the safety, security and well-being of the Bangladesh national cricket team. The Board will continue constructive engagement with the ICC and relevant event authorities in a cooperative and professional manner to arrive at an affable and practical solution that ensures the smooth and successful participation of the team in the T20 World Cup,” the statement added.

The T20 World Cup is scheduled to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8. Bangladesh is slated to play three league-stage matches in Kolkata, followed by its final league fixture in Mumbai. Should it qualify for the Super Eights, the team will play three additional matches.