The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) are hopeful of a positive outcome from their upcoming face-to-face meeting with the International Cricket Council (ICC) over Bangladesh’s participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
An ICC delegation is scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh on Saturday, 17 January, for discussions with the BCB. A separate meeting with the Ministry of Youth and Sports may also take place during the visit.
Speaking to reporters at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Friday, BCB director Iftekhar Rahman Mithu said the board was optimistic ahead of the talks.
“I know the ICC delegation is arriving tomorrow. The president is fully aware of the programme, and both the president and vice-president will be present at the meeting. We hope a satisfactory outcome will come from these discussions,” Mithu said.
Reiterating the board’s position on the World Cup issue, Mithu made it clear that Bangladesh’s stance remains unchanged. “Our position is very clear. Whether it is the board or the government, we believe our team, players and supporters would not be safe there. That is the main issue that will be discussed. The president himself is overseeing the matter, so we will see what comes out of the meeting.”
Mithu added that the ICC delegation’s visit was a positive development in an ongoing process. “First, we sent an email, they replied, then we responded again. After that, a Zoom meeting took place. Now they want to sit face to face and talk. It shows the matter is progressing, but our position remains the same, Bangladesh will not play in India.”
When asked whether the sports minister would also attend the meeting, Mithu said he could not confirm it. “I heard about it yesterday, but I don’t have confirmation. If there is a meeting with the sports ministry, we will update everyone accordingly.”
The talks are seen as a crucial step as the BCB continues to push for alternative arrangements, including hosting Bangladesh’s World Cup matches at a neutral venue.
