BCB writes to ICC again for venue change, calls for independent committee intervention

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has sent another letter to the International Cricket Council (ICC), asking it to refer Bangladesh’s request for a venue change to the ICC’s independent dispute resolution committee, according to reports.​

Earlier, the BCB had clearly stated that it did not want to play T20 World Cup 2026 matches in India and wants the game to be shifted to Sri Lanka due to security concerns. Since the ICC has not accepted this request, Bangladesh has now asked for formal intervention through an independent body.

The ICC’s Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) is an independent legal body made up of lawyers. It handles disputes related to international cricket once all internal discussions fail.

The committee works under English law, with hearings held in London. Its job is to examine whether ICC decisions and rules have been applied fairly and legally.

The decisions taken by the DRC are final and binding, with very limited scope for appeal.

Bangladesh has requested that its decision is based only on security issues and not on politics or rivalry.

Bangladesh Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul on Thursday said there is no chance of the team travelling to india for the tournament.

He stated that since the ICC has refused to change the venue, Bangladesh will not participate in this year’s T20 World Cup if matches remain in India.

Nazrul also criticised the ICC for not giving proper consideration to Bangladesh’s concerns. He said the security issue is based on a real incident, not assumptions.

According to him, a senior Bangladeshi cricketer was once forced to bow before extremists and was later asked to leave India by the Indian Cricket Board. This incident, he said,raised serious safety concerns.

On Thursday, the ICC officially rejected Bangladesh’s request to move its matches out of India. The tournament schedule remains unchanged 

The ICC added that without independent proof of a serious security risk, it cannot relocate matches. Doing so would create logistical problems and could affect the fairness and neutrality of ICC governance.​

Bangladesh is placed in Group C along with England, Italy, West Indies and Nepal.​

The team is scheduled to play:

• First three matches in Kolkata

• Final group match in Mumbai​

Their opening match is against the West Indies on February 7, the first day of the tournament

The BCB has said that it does not want conflict and has suggested practical solutions. Aminul Islam Bulbul pointed out that in the past, ICC tournaments have been played at neutral venues or under hybrid models due to security issues.

Bangladesh has asked the ICC to follow the same approach and allow them to play the world at a neutral venue, such as Sri Lanka.

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