Yet to receive ICC’s response, says BCB president Aminul Islam:Bangladesh firm on stance of not playing T20 World Cup in India

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Aminul Islam Bulbul said that their board has not yet received any response from the ICC (International Cricket Council) over their demand to relocate their matches in the T20 World Cup 2026. He announced this while speaking to reporters on 9 January. Bangladesh have remained firm on their stance of not playing T20 World Cup 2026 matches in India, citing security concerns. Islam reiterated that the BCB’s position on this issue remained unchanged. The T20 World Cup starts on 7 February and will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. ‘Yet to receive any response from ICC’: Aminul Islam Islam shared that the BCB shared all necessary attachments and proofs with the ICC, explaining their concerns with playing in India in the T20 World Cup 2026. “We haven’t yet received any reply from the ICC. We have sent all the attachments and proofs of our concern,” he said. Adding that there has been no new development in this matter, he shared, “Any alternate Indian venue at the end of the day is an Indian venue. You all know that no unilateral decision can be taken and we have to abide by the government’s diktat. We are standing where we had been a few days back.” Also read: BCB writes second letter to ICC, want matches outside India: Bangladesh firm on relocation of T20 World Cup games, players ‘tense’ amid uncertainty So what will BCB do if their matches are not relocated? “I can’t comment on what we will do if we aren’t allowed to play in Sri Lanka unless the ICC sends its response,” Islam said, adding that the BCB would wait for the apex body before arriving at a decision. Bangladesh are set to play three of their Group C matches at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata and one at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The BCB chief also added that he was not aware of any reports of Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup matches being shifted to Hyderabad or Chennai. “I haven t heard about Hyderabad and Chennai being replacement venues. We might come to know maybe on Monday or Tuesday,” he stated. Also read: SG puts sponsorship of Litton Das, Mominul Haque on hold: Indian sports manufacturer springs into action amid Mustafizur Rahman controversy
Why has the BCB called for relocating T20 World Cup matches outside India? The BCB demanded that the venues for their matches in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 be changed after Bangladeshi bowler Mustafizur Rahman was released by KKR (Kolkata Knight Riders) from their IPL 2026 squad upon the instructions of the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India). The BCCI’s instruction came after the board faced threats from several groups expressing anger at the killing of Hindus in Bangladesh. BCB president confident of Bangladesh doing well at T20 World Cup Islam also expressed confidence in the Litton Das-led Bangladesh team performing well at the T20 World Cup. “I believe Bangladesh is a big team in world cricket. We have played the quarterfinals of the 2015 ODI World Cup, we played the Champions Trophy semifinals and in sub-continental conditions, we have a good chance of doing well,” he said. Aminul Islam seeks clarification from BCB director who called Tamim Iqbal ‘Indian agent’ The BCB president also spoke about the recent controversy where a BCB director called Tamim Iqbal an ‘Indian agent’ after the former cricketer called for dialogue to resolve the ongoing controversy. “It was the personal opinion of the director and I have asked him to give clarification. Tamim has achieved so much and he should have kept that in mind while putting his opinion in public,” he said.