Havent received a reply from ICC yet: Bangladesh Cricket Board chief on request to shift matches out of India
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Aminul Islam Bulbul revealed the board has not yet recieved a response from the ICC on their request to move their matches out of India in the T20 World Cup 2026.
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Aminul Islam Bulbul revealed the board is yet to hear back from the International Cricket Council (ICC) over their request to shift their matches out of India in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. Bangladesh refused to travel to India for the tournament after Mustafizur Rahman's snub from the Indian Premier League (IPL).
BCB formally wrote to the ICC, expressing concerns about travelling to India and playing their matches in the country after the BCCI directed Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Mustafizur from their IPL 2026 squad. The Bangladesh board cited security concerns while urging the ICC to shift their matches to co-host Sri Lanka.
BCB's move came in retaliation for Mustafizur's IPL snub amid reports of violence against Hindu minorities in Bangladesh. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, who confirmed the Indian board's direction to KKR to release the Bangladesh pacer, didn't specify the exact reason behind the move.
"We haven't yet received any reply from the ICC. We have sent all the attachments and proofs of our concern," Bulbul told reporters in Bangladesh, as quoted by PTI.
While reiterating BCB's stand on the matter, Bulbul said moving Bangladesh's matches to alternate venues in India won't be a solution for the board. He stressed that the decision not to send the Bangladesh team to India is the country's government's and that they will have to stand by it.
He refused to reveal details of BCB's plan of action if ICC rejects their request to move their matches out of India in the T20 World Cup 2026. As per the current schedule, Bangladesh are scheduled to play all of their four group stage matches in India. They will play their first three matches at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata before locking horns with Nepal in their final league game at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
"Any alternate Indian venue at the end of the day is an Indian venue. You all know that no unilateral decision can be taken and we have to abide by the government's diktat. We are standing where we had been a few days back," said the BCB chief.
"I can't comment on what we will do if we aren't allowed to play in Sri Lanka unless the ICC sends its response," he added.
Haven't heard about Hyderabad and Chennai being replacement venues: BCB president
BCB president Bulbul also insisted he hasn't yet heard anything about ICC readying Chennai and Hyderabad as alternate venues for Bangladesh in order to shift their matches away from Kolkata. He said BCB will prepare for a response only after hearing back on their official request from the ICC.
"I haven't heard about Hyderabad and Chennai being replacement venues. We might come to know maybe on Monday or Tuesday," said the BCB president.
The ongoing cricketing tussle between BCB and the BCCI comes amid strained political ties between India and Bangladesh due to the ongoing violence against Hindus in the country. Earlier, there were reports that ICC had rejected BCB's demand to shift their matches out of India in the T20 World Cup 2026, however, the Bangladesh board refuted the rumours, stating that the ICC has coveyed that they will work closely with them to address their concerns ahead of the tournament.