The International Cricket Council (ICC) has issued a strict ultimatum to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB): travel to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup or be replaced.
In a decisive board meeting on Wednesday, the global body voted in favor of bringing in a replacement team if Bangladesh persists in its refusal to play in the host nation.
The BCB has been granted a final 24-hour window to consult with its government and confirm whether they will adhere to the tournament schedule.
If Bangladesh ultimately declines to travel, Scotland is expected to take their place in Group C, despite failing to qualify directly during the European Qualifiers. The decision to replace Bangladesh was reached via a majority vote by the ICC Board, which included directors from all Full Member nations, such as ICC Chair Jay Shah, BCB President Aminul Islam, and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
The vote proceeded despite a late diplomatic intervention from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which had written to the ICC formally supporting Bangladesh’s stance regarding security concerns in India.
The standoff centers on Bangladesh`s refusal to play its group matches in Kolkata and Mumbai, citing political turmoil and safety risks.
However, an independent risk assessment report reviewed during the meeting reportedly stated that while the general threat environment in India is “moderate-high,” there is “no information to indicate a direct threat against participating teams.”
With the tournament set to begin on February 7, the ICC has refused to alter the schedule or move matches to a neutral venue like Sri Lanka. The cricketing world now waits for the BCB`s final response tomorrow, which will determine whether the Tigers compete or forfeit their spot on the global stage.
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