Bangladesh omitted from WC, ICC makes official announcement

Bangladesh will not play in the upcoming T20 World Cup. Scotland will replace the Tigers in the tournament. The International Cricket Council (ICC) officially announced this decision in a statement on Saturday, January 24.

The ICC statement said that the council undertook an extensive and prolonged process to address the concerns raised by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) regarding hosting matches on Indian soil. Over more than three weeks, transparent and constructive discussions were held with the BCB, including multiple rounds of video conferences and in-person meetings.

As part of this process, the ICC reviewed the security-related issues raised by the BCB. Independent security assessments were conducted through internal and external experts. The council also considered security arrangements at central and state levels, detailed operational planning, and assurances of enhanced, phased security measures for the tournament. These matters were reiterated during discussions at the ICC Business Corporation (IBC) board.

The statement added that, based on these assessments, the ICC concluded that there was no credible or verifiable security threat for the Bangladesh national team, officials, or supporters in India. Considering this reality and the overall impact on the tournament, the ICC decided not to alter the published schedule.

Earlier, citing security concerns, the BCB had informed the ICC of its decision not to travel to India for the World Cup. After the ICC meeting on Wednesday, Bangladesh was given 24 hours to reconsider their decision. The following day, Thursday, January 23, Youth and Sports Advisor Asif Nazrul met with the players, after which he confirmed that Bangladesh would remain firm in its decision.