ICC gives an ultimatum to the BCB on Bangladesh’s participation in the T20 World Cup

ICC has set a deadline for the BCB, saying that if it doesn’t participate in the T20 World Cup, it will name a replacement team based on current rankings.

An ultimatum has been handed over to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) by the International Cricket Council (ICC), as per a report on ESPNcrickinfo. The ICC has informed the BCB that January 21 will be the deadline to take a final call on Bangladesh’s participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup.

BCB’s warning of a potential pull-out of the 2026 World Cup.

On Saturday, ICC delegates held a second meeting in Dhaka, where the BCB reiterated its desire to play the 2026 T20 World Cup, but not in India. Bangladesh cited security concerns while pushing for an alternative venue with Sri Lanka, the co-hosts, proposed as a possible option. However, the ICC stood firm on its original schedule, under which Bangladesh, placed in Group C, are slated to play all their matches in Mumbai and Kolkata. This stand-off has been ongoing for nearly three weeks now, beginning after the BCCI directed Kolkata Knight Riders to remove Mustafizur Rahman from their squad. Subsequently, the BCB informed the ICC that they were unwilling to play their World Cup matches in India and warned about a potential pull-out if their demand was not met.

ICC sets a deadline for BCB to decide Bangladesh’s participation in the T20 World Cup.

The report states that the ICC has rejected Bangladesh’s request to swap groups with Ireland, whose matches are scheduled entirely in Sri Lanka and assured the BCB that there is no security threat to the team in India. ICC has thus set a deadline of January 21 for them to finalise their decision. The report adds that if the BCB chooses not to participate, the governing body will name a replacement team based on current rankings, with Scotland emerging as a possible beneficiary.

Earlier, a GEO News report revealed that Pakistan will review its participation if the issue with Bangladesh remains unresolved. The decision was taken after the Bangladesh government reached out to Pakistan over security concerns, with the latter assuring full support. PCB had even formally communicated its willingness to host Bangladesh’s World Cup matches in Pakistan should Sri Lanka be unavailable.