Double standards involved in Bangladesh’s case, says BCB as their President brings up India’s Champions Trophy example.
BCB accuses ICC of double standards over T20 World Cup venue issue.
By citing the ICC’s accommodation of India’s request to play their 2025 Champions Trophy matches in the United Arab Emirates rather than Pakistan, while declining to relocate Bangladesh’s matches in the upcoming T20 World Cup from India to Sri Lanka, BCB president Aminul Islam has effectively accused the organisation of double standards.
Speaking to the media in Dhaka, Aminul stated that India was granted the “privilege” of playing all of its Champions Trophy matches at one location—Dubai—after the Bangladeshi government strengthened its position following a meeting with the national sports adviser, the BCB, and national players.
“The ICC tried to tell us about incidents in 1996 and 2003 but we pointed out their recent steps in a similar matter,” Aminul said. “When a country refused to travel to another country for the Champions Trophy last February, the ICC organised a neutral venue for them. The team played all their Champions Trophy matches in that neutral venue. They played in one ground, staying in one hotel. It was a privilege.”
Aminul stated that although he is adamant about not playing in India, he will keep in touch with the ICC regarding Bangladesh’s venues and participation in the 2026 T20 World Cup. He claimed to have informed the ICC that allowing Bangladesh to play in Sri Lanka may also be a hybrid model.
“We are calling Sri Lanka co-hosts but they are not co-hosts. Sri Lanka is part of the hybrid model where one country is going to play,” Aminul said. “We indicated to the ICC that since our government is reluctant (to let us play in India), we want to take that option. Still, they denied our request. We will communicate with the ICC today. We are ready to play the World Cup in Sri Lanka. We don’t want to play in India.”
“We are proud of Bangladesh cricket, but we are doubtful about world cricket,” Aminul said. “When cricket’s popularity is in decline, ICC is denying a cricket-loving country of 200 million people. Cricket is going to the Olympics in 2028. India is bidding for the Olympics and Commonwealth Games, but it will be their failure if such a country [Bangladesh] is not going to the World Cup. We are not giving up on playing the World Cup.”
The ICC had stated that there was no real security risk to Bangladesh in India and that consenting to a venue change would set a precedent in a statement released after the board meeting on Wednesday.
“The ICC Board noted that it was not feasible to make changes so close to the tournament and that altering the schedule under the circumstances, in the absence of any credible security threat, could set a precedent that would jeopardise the sanctity of future ICC events and undermine its neutrality as a global governing body.”