The International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to exclude Bangladesh from the upcoming T20 World Cup if the team refuses to travel to India for their scheduled matches, following the Bangladesh government’s firm stance against the tour.
According to a report by Cricinfo, the decision was taken at an ICC board meeting on Wednesday, where a majority of members voted in favour of replacing Bangladesh with an alternative team should the standoff continue. The ICC has formally informed the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) of the decision and asked it to officially convey the matter to the government.
An ICC source told Cricinfo that if Bangladesh declines to play in India, another team will be drafted into the tournament in their place. The board has also granted the BCB one additional day to clarify its final position on the issue.
If Bangladesh withdraws, Scotland is widely expected to be included in Group C as a replacement, despite having failed to qualify for the main round of the World Cup. Scotland finished behind the Netherlands, Italy and Jersey in the European qualifiers.
The development has sparked widespread debate in cricketing circles, with concerns growing over the impact of political and diplomatic tensions on international sporting events. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly written to the ICC expressing support for Bangladesh’s position.
The situation now hinges on whether the BCB and the government reconsider their stance within the ICC’s given deadline, as the prospect of Bangladesh missing a major global tournament looms large.
