ICC Rejects Bangladesh Venue Shift Request
The International Cricket Council has rejected a request from the Bangladesh Cricket Board to shift Bangladesh’s matches in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup from India to another country. The decision was taken after the ICC reviewed Bangladesh’s concerns and concluded that there were no security red flags or official advisories that would justify a change in venues.
Bangladesh’s Concerns Explained
The Bangladesh Cricket Board had approached the ICC citing concerns over player safety and overall security. The board sought permission for Bangladesh’s group-stage matches to be played at a neutral venue instead of India. However, the ICC assessed the situation and found no intelligence inputs, government advisories, or security assessments that warranted relocating the fixtures.
ICC’s Stand on Tournament Planning
The ICC made it clear that tournament schedules and venues are decided after detailed planning in coordination with host governments and security agencies. According to the council, India remains fully capable of hosting matches safely, and no participating team has been issued special security exemptions. The ICC also indicated that participating teams are expected to honour the agreed tournament structure.
Implications for Bangladesh
With the request rejected, Bangladesh are expected to travel to India and play their scheduled matches as planned. Any refusal to participate under the approved schedule could attract penalties under ICC tournament regulations, including possible forfeiture of matches.
World Cup Schedule Unchanged
The decision confirms that the T20 World Cup schedule will proceed without alterations. Matches involving Bangladesh will remain in Indian venues as originally announced, reinforcing the ICC’s position on maintaining consistency and neutrality in tournament operations.
