Bangladesh have maintained a firm position over Mustafizur Rahman’s exclusion from the Indian Premier League, with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) refusing to send the national team to India for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
The stance has put the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) under significant pressure, with reports suggesting that Bangladesh’s absence could cause major financial losses for the tournament. The BCB has already submitted a formal letter to the International Cricket Council (ICC), although the global governing body has yet to respond publicly.
According to sources close to the development, the ICC is set to hold discussions with the BCB via an online meeting on Tuesday, 6 January, to explore possible solutions. The BCCI is expected to use the platform to offer state-level security guarantees for the Bangladesh team in India.
Despite the proposal, the BCB is understood to remain resolute, with a senior official noting that government directives leave little room for altering their position.
The ICC faces a complex situation following Bangladesh’s request to relocate their World Cup fixtures away from India. The matter involves more than the wishes of a single board, encompassing logistical difficulties, scheduling adjustments, the host board’s responsibilities, and broader political sensitivities.
Sources report that the ICC has not entirely ruled out moving Bangladesh’s matches to co-host Sri Lanka, though no formal decision has been taken and no in-person meeting has occurred. Officials caution that implementing such a change at short notice would be highly challenging and could have wide-reaching implications for the tournament’s overall structure.
