ICC Officials to Visit Dhaka to Resolve Bangladesh T20 World Cup Standoff

The visit is seen as a last-ditch effort by the ICC to persuade the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), which has demanded that its matches be relocated outside India, citing security concerns. Beyond resolving the immediate dispute, the ICC initiative is also aimed at confidence-building, ensuring Bangladesh does not feel isolated within the global cricketing community.

Talks between the ICC and BCB had reportedly reached a critical point during a video conference held earlier this week, when BCB president Aminul Islam expressed strong dissatisfaction, nearly derailing negotiations. However, the ICC subsequently re-engaged with the BCB in an attempt to find common ground. Representatives of Bangladesh’s Muhammad Yunus-led government are also expected to be part of the discussions.

Security Concerns at the Core

The dispute revolves around two key issues: perceived security threats to Bangladeshi players in India and the controversy involving fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman. According to ICC assessments, the security threat level in India has been rated “moderate to low,” a level considered normal for major international sporting events. In contrast, the perceived threat within Bangladesh itself is believed to be “moderate to high.”

The ICC delegation is expected to underline Bangladesh’s importance to world cricket, while also emphasizing its responsibility toward the other 19 participating nations. The ICC has stressed that speculative or hypothetical threats cannot be grounds for withdrawing from a global tournament.

BCB officials have raised concerns over hypothetical scenarios involving communal unrest and comments made by political leaders in India, particularly referencing perceived risks to Mustafizur Rahman. The ICC and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), however, have maintained that any increase in threat perception would be addressed through enhanced security arrangements.

Schedule and Precedent Issues

The ICC and BCCI are also reluctant to alter venues or schedules at this late stage, fearing it would set an undesirable precedent for future global tournaments. Notably, the BCB raised no objections for nearly three weeks after the schedule was announced on November 25.While the BCB claims its own security assessment highlights risks to its players, it has not formally shared the report with either the ICC or the BCCI.

Upcoming Matches and Meeting

Bangladesh are scheduled to play three of their four group-stage matches in Kolkata—against West Indies (February 7), Italy (February 9) and England (February 14)—before traveling to Mumbai for their final group match against Nepal.

BCB director Iftekhar Rahman confirmed that the ICC delegation is expected to arrive in Dhaka on Saturday, with discussions likely to be held at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. “We are looking forward to sitting down with them and hopefully resolving the issue,” he said.