Tag: Bangladesh

DHAKA: Aminul Haque, the new sports minister of Bangladesh, has expressed his desire to quickly ease tensions with India following the national team’s absence from the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, stressing the importance of maintaining friendly ties with neighbouring nations.

Speaking on Tuesday after taking the oath with the new cabinet, Aminul revealed he had already opened dialogue with Indian officials.

“After taking the oath today, I met with the deputy high commissioner of India at the Parliament building. I discussed the T20 World Cup with him,” he said, describing the interaction as cordial and constructive.

“We want to resolve this issue quickly through discussions because we want to maintain friendly relations with all our neighbouring countries.”

Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland in the ongoing global event, jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, after the previous government opted against sending the team to India amid geopolitical tensions.

The situation escalated when the Indian government reportedly asked Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to remove Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their squad, eventually leading to Bangladesh’s exclusion from the tournament.

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In a positive development for the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), the ICC confirmed on February 9 that it would not face any penalty for refusing to play matches in India.

Additionally, the board has been granted hosting rights for an out-of-turn ICC event before the 2031 Men’s ODI World Cup, which Bangladesh will co-host with India.

Aminul reiterated his government’s broader vision of rebuilding ties.

“From sports to all other sectors, we want to build a sincere and cordial relationship with India,” he said.

“Because of diplomatic complications, we could not play in the World Cup. If those issues had been discussed and settled earlier, our team might have participated.”

Despite recent tensions, bilateral cricket remains on the calendar, with India scheduled to tour Bangladesh in September for three ODIs and three T20Is, a series originally planned for August 2025 that was postponed.

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Pakistan men’s cricket team is set to tour Bangladesh following the conclusion of the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, with a three-match ODI series scheduled in March.

The ODI series will be played in Dhaka on March 12, 14 and 16, marking the start of Pakistan’s white-ball assignment in Bangladesh.

The Green Shirts will return home and will tour Bangladesh again in May after the completion of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 11.

The two sides will meet for a two-match Test series in May, part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27 cycle.

The first Test is slated to take place in Dhaka from May 8 to 12, while the second Test will be held in Chattogram from May 16 to 20.

Pakistan’s visit forms part of Bangladesh’s packed home international calendar for the 2026 season.

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The Tigers are scheduled to host four Tests, 12 ODIs and nine T20Is across the year, beginning with Pakistan’s tour immediately after the T20 World Cup.

After Pakistan ODIs, the New Zealand men’s cricket team will arrive for a white-ball series starting April 17.

Later in the season, Australia are also set to tour Bangladesh for three ODIs and three T20Is, with matches scheduled around mid-June.

Bangladesh are further expected to host India for a limited-overs series in August-September 2026, featuring three ODIs and three T20Is, following a two-match Test series against the West Indies men’s cricket team under the WTC.

However, uncertainty surrounds India’s tour after recent tensions, including Bangladesh’s withdrawal from the T20 World Cup in India, where they were replaced by Scotland.

Schedule of Pakistan-Bangladesh series

• First ODI – March 12
• Second ODI – March 14
• Third ODI – March 16
• First Test – May 8 to 12
• Second Test – May 16 to 20

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DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday disclosed the details about discussions with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) regarding the T20 World Cup 2026 standoff, currently underway in India.

According to the press release statement, Bangladesh will not be fined for missing the T20 World Cup 2026. Additionally, Bangladesh will be awarded hosting rights for an ICC event between 2028 and 2031.

“It is agreed that no financial, sporting or administrative penalty will be imposed on Bangladesh Cricket Board in relation to the current matter,” the press release said.

“As part of this understanding, an agreement has been reached that Bangladesh will host an ICC event prior to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2031, subject to the usual ICC hosting processes, timelines and operational requirements,” it added.

Earlier sources said that the clash between Pakistan and India at the T20 World Cup is set to proceed as scheduled following a successful dialogue with the International Cricket Council delegation.

A formal request in this regard has been made to the Government of Pakistan, confirmed PCB’s spokesman Amir Mir.

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The decision was made following a successful meeting in Lahore with the ICC delegation led by Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja on Sunday.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Aminul Islam Bulbul was also present during the high-profile meeting.

For those unaware, the development comes on the back of the much-anticipated fixture between arch-rivals India and Pakistan, widely regarded as one of cricket’s most commercially significant contests, which remains uncertain after the Government of Pakistan directed its national team not to take the field against India in Colombo.

The match is scheduled for February 15 and carries massive implications both financially and competitively.

The 20-team tournament has already been clouded by political tensions after Bangladesh refused to play matches in India due to security concerns, leading to their replacement by Scotland.

In response, the Pakistan government barred the national side from participating in the high-profile Group A encounter against co-hosts India.

Pakistan, which opened their campaign with a victory over the Netherlands on February 7, stands to lose two vital points and suffer a significant blow to its net run rate if it forfeits the contest.

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Former England captain Nasser Hussain has strongly criticised the International Cricket Council (ICC) amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the T20 World Cup 2026, backing Pakistan and Bangladesh in their stand against what he described as inconsistent and biased decision-making by the global governing body.

The debate intensified after the Pakistan government announced on February 1 that the national team would boycott their group-stage clash against India, scheduled for February 15 in Colombo.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif termed the move a protest against the ICC’s decision to remove Bangladesh from the tournament after they refused to play in India over security concerns.

Bangladesh were subsequently replaced by Scotland, a decision that sparked criticism from several quarters of the cricketing world.

Hussain, speaking on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, questioned the ICC’s consistency and suggested that the governing body has shown preferential treatment towards India and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

“There has always been a link between sports and politics, but what used to be an exception now feels like the norm,” Hussain said.

“It’s very depressing, not shaking hands, not lifting trophies. Cricket used to unite countries; now it’s pushing people apart.”

He raised concerns over whether the ICC would apply the same strict stance if India were to make a similar request regarding venues in future tournaments.

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“If India, a month before a World Cup, said their government didn’t want them to play in a particular country, would the ICC really be so firm and say, ‘You know the rules, bad luck, you’re out’?” Hussain questioned.

The former skipper emphasised that consistency should be the guiding principle in dealing with politically influenced decisions by member boards.

“All sides ask for is consistency. You have to treat Bangladesh the same as Pakistan, and Pakistan the same as India,” he said.

Nasser Hussain also warned that repeatedly sidelining Pakistan and Bangladesh could have damaging consequences for the sport in those nations, ultimately affecting the competitiveness of major cricketing rivalries.

“With power comes responsibility. If you keep knocking Pakistan and Bangladesh into a corner, their cricket diminishes, and the great contests we’ve seen over the years risk becoming one-sided,” he added.

The 57-year-old further pointed to the growing influence of politics in franchise cricket, questioning whether teams with Indian ownership are willing to sign Pakistani or Bangladeshi players, while praising the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for ensuring inclusivity in The Hundred.

Highlighting the broader impact on the sport, Hussain applauded Bangladesh for standing by Mustafizur Rahman and Pakistan for showing solidarity, urging cricket’s powerbrokers to prioritise the game over politics.

“The game is shooting itself in the foot. At some point, someone had to say enough with the politics, can we just get back to playing cricket?” he concluded.

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The International Cricket Council (ICC) has sought to clarify the controversy surrounding the accreditation of Bangladeshi journalists for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026, amid tensions between the global body and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).

Earlier, multiple journalists from Bangladesh reported that their accreditation applications were rejected, effectively barring them from covering the tournament in India and Sri Lanka.

The issue gained prominence after Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland in the World Cup following their refusal to travel to India due to security concerns.

According to sources quoted by the Press Trust of India (PTI), the ICC is now reworking the media accreditation process for Bangladeshi journalists, following the withdrawal of their national team from the tournament.

“There is a reworking of the process since there is a change in the number of requests and the schedules. The accreditation lists are being worked out accordingly,” ICC sources told PTI.

The sources said the situation for Bangladeshi journalists changed after Scotland replaced Bangladesh in the tournament.

The ICC is reportedly revising the application process and reassessing the accreditation requests based on the new tournament dynamics.

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A key point highlighted by the sources is that accreditation numbers are capped by country quota, and the ICC cannot exceed this limit.

“If you go by country quota, you can’t exceed the number beyond 40. The ICC goes by the recommendations of the home board and accordingly takes a call on applications,” the sources said.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) media committee chairman Amzad Hossain confirmed that all accreditation applications from Bangladeshi journalists were rejected.

He also said that the BCB has already raised the issue with the ICC and is awaiting an explanation.

“The decision came only yesterday, and we have sought to know [the details]. An explanation has been requested,” he told reporters in Dhaka.

“This is an internal and confidential matter, but to summarise, we wanted to know why this was done,” he told reporters in Dhaka.”

ICC sources revealed that Bangladesh media members will now have to reapply for accreditation, which will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

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The International Cricket Council (ICC) has denied accreditation applications from Bangladesh journalists aiming to cover the T20 World Cup 2026, effectively preventing media representatives from the country from accessing on-ground coverage of the tournament.

The development comes amid already strained relations between the ICC and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) following their refusal to travel to India for the World Cup, citing security concerns, a decision that eventually led to their replacement by Scotland.

BCB media committee chairman Amzad Hossain confirmed the matter on Monday, revealing that none of the Bangladeshi journalists who applied were granted accreditation.

“As far as I know, all Bangladeshi journalists were rejected. Around 130 to 150 journalists applied this year, but none received accreditation,” Amzad said.

The situation has further fueled controversy after several Bangladeshi journalists claimed their accreditation approvals were initially granted and later withdrawn.

A handful of photojournalists reportedly received confirmation emails and visa support letters in mid-January, only to be informed days later that their applications had been rejected.

Local journalist Mir Farid said he was among those affected.

“I received an approval email from the ICC media department on January 20, which included a visa support letter. But today I received another email saying my application was rejected,” he said.

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Bangladeshi journalists have consistently covered ICC events since the country’s involvement in World Cups began in 1999, regardless of whether Bangladesh were active participant in the tournament.

Veteran journalist Arifur Rahman Babu, who was among the Bangladeshi reporters covering the 1996 World Cup, expressed strong disappointment over the ICC’s move.

“Even if a team is not playing, journalists from an ICC Associate Member nation can still receive accreditation. I find no reason why everyone was rejected. I am surprised, and I strongly condemn and protest this decision,” said Arifur, who is also the president of the Bangladesh Sports Journalists Association (BSJA).

Arifur further indicated that the BSJA would consult with the Bangladesh Sports Press Association (BSPA) and the Bangladesh Sports Journalists Community (BSJC) to decide on a collective response.

“It appears the ICC is unhappy that Bangladesh are not participating and has shut the door on Bangladeshi sports journalists. This goes beyond courtesy and professionalism. I believe this episode has exposed a dark side of the ICC,” he said.

He also suggested that alternative arrangements could have been made, particularly with Sri Lanka being a co-host.

“A strong protest letter should be sent to the ICC through the Ministry of Information and the BCB, seeking an explanation. Since Sri Lanka is a co-host, arrangements could have been made for us there,” he added.

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Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has strongly criticised the International Cricket Council (ICC) for replacing Bangladesh with Scotland at the T20 World Cup 2026, calling the decision unfair and inconsistent.

The ICC on Saturday confirmed Bangladesh’s removal from the tournament after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) refused to send its team to India, citing security concerns.

Despite several rounds of discussions, the ICC rejected Bangladesh’s request to shift their matches to Sri Lanka, eventually opting to replace them with Scotland.

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Afridi voiced his disappointment through a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, questioning the ICC’s approach and accusing the governing body of applying double standards.

“As a former international cricketer who has played in Bangladesh and in ICC events, I’m deeply disappointed by today’s ICC’s inconsistency,” Afridi wrote.

The former all-rounder drew a comparison with the ICC’s stance on India’s decision not to tour Pakistan in 2025, arguing that Bangladesh deserved similar consideration.

“It accepted India’s security concerns for not touring Pakistan in 2025, yet appears unwilling to apply the same understanding to Bangladesh,” Afridi added. “Consistency and fairness are the foundation of global cricket governance.”

Shahid Afridi further stressed that the decision goes beyond administrative matters and directly affects players and supporters.

“Bangladesh’s players and millions of its fans deserve respect – not mixed standards. The ICC should build bridges, not burn them,” he concluded.

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The International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to replace Bangladesh with Scotland at the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, following Bangladesh’s continued refusal to travel to India for the tournament, according to a report by Cricbuzz.

The report claims ICC chief executive Sanjog Gupta formally informed board members on Saturday that Bangladesh were not complying with the governing body’s earlier decision to stick to the existing schedule.

With no breakthrough after weeks of discussions, the ICC moved to enforce its stance and extend a formal invitation to Scotland, who will now take Bangladesh’s place at the marquee event.

The decision brings an end to nearly three weeks of back-and-forth between the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the ICC.

The dispute centred on Bangladesh’s refusal to play their World Cup matches in India, citing security concerns, and their insistence on relocating fixtures to Sri Lanka.

According to the report, the ICC informed the BCB via email on Friday evening after Bangladesh conveyed that its government had not granted permission for the team to travel to India for the tournament, scheduled to begin on February 7.

The matter had escalated earlier this week when the ICC Board held an emergency video conference on Wednesday.

During the meeting, a majority of directors reportedly voted in favour of replacing Bangladesh should they continue to reject the agreed schedule.

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The BCB was given until Thursday to consult its government and confirm whether it would travel to India. However, both the Bangladesh government and the board reiterated their position.

Bangladesh were drawn in Group C and were set to play their first three matches in Kolkata, followed by a group-stage fixture in Mumbai.

Security concerns first surfaced earlier this month after the BCCI, on January 3, instructed Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad.

While no official reason was cited, the move came amid worsening diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh.

A day later, the BCB formally wrote to the ICC, stating, after consultation with the government, that the national team would not travel to India for its World Cup matches, a stance it maintained despite multiple rounds of talks.

Scotland’s inclusion is understood to be based on their consistent performances in recent ICC tournaments and their current world ranking of 14.

They narrowly missed out on progression at the 2024 T20 World Cup and have registered notable wins in past editions, including victories over West Indies (2022) and Bangladesh (2021).

As per the revised arrangement, Scotland will slot into Group C, where they are scheduled to face West Indies, Italy and England in Kolkata, before travelling to Mumbai to play Nepal.

While the ICC has yet to issue an official public statement, sources quoted in the report insist the decision is final, effectively ending Bangladesh’s participation in the T20 World Cup 2026 and underlining the ICC’s firm position amid mounting geopolitical tensions.

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DHAKA: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Thursday reiterated that the team will not travel to India for the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 despite the International Cricket Council (ICC) verdict.

The decision was taken by Bangladesh’s Youth and Sports Advisor Asif Nazrul following a meeting with the national team players and board officials.

“There is no scope to change our decision. We are not giving up yet. Our team is ready, and we still hope that the ICC will deliver justice. We want the ICC to take our genuine security risk into consideration and allow us to play in Sri Lanka,” he told reporters.

“There has been no change in the security risk situation regarding playing in India at present. This concern is not based on any abstract or hypothetical idea; rather, it stems from a real incident in which the Indian cricket board failed to provide security to one of our top players [Mustafizur Rahman] under pressure from extremists, and he was asked to leave India,” he added.

He highlighted security concerns, noting that the Indian government and cricket apex body have provided no guarantee of players’ safety.

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“Since the Indian cricket board is effectively an extended arm of the government and could not ensure the safety of even a single player, no assurance has been given by the ICC or the Indian government that they would be able to guarantee the security of our entire team, journalists, and spectators,” he concluded.

A day earlier, ICC turned down Bangladesh’s plea to relocate World Cup matches from India, keeping the tournament’s schedule unchanged, a decision taken during a board meeting.

For the unversed, the whole situation arose after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) refused to send its team to India for the tournament, citing safety concerns for players and support staff, and had requested that the ICC shift the matches outside India.

The decision followed an IPL-related dispute involving pacer Mustafizur Rahman, which triggered strong reactions in Dhaka.

Despite multiple discussions, the ICC’s proposal to change venues within India was rejected by the BCB, which remains firm on playing its matches in Sri Lanka, prolonging the standoff.

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The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has refused to back down from its decision not to send the national men’s team to India for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, despite the International Cricket Council (ICC) rejecting its request to relocate matches to Sri Lanka.

Bangladesh have consistently raised concerns over the safety and security of their players in India and have demanded that their fixtures be shifted to Sri Lanka, the co-host of the tournament.

However, the ICC has remained unmoved, insisting that the World Cup schedule will not be altered so close to the start of the event.

Following an ICC board meeting on Wednesday, BCB president Aminul Islam revealed that Bangladesh had been warned of replacement if they refused to travel to India.

Despite the firm stance from the global body, Islam said he had requested additional time to consult the Bangladesh government before taking a final call.

“I asked the ICC board for time to talk to my government for one last time,” Aminul said. “They said it’s a valid point and gave me 24 or 48 hours to get back to them.”

The BCB president acknowledged the ICC’s position but reiterated Bangladesh’s concerns, stressing that the board does not believe India is a safe destination for its players.

“I don’t want to put pressure on the government. We know that India is not secure for us. We remain in the stance that we want to play in Sri Lanka,” he added.

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Aminul also confirmed that Bangladesh players are scheduled to meet the country’s sports adviser, Asif Nazrul, on Thursday afternoon as discussions intensify behind the scenes.

While holding firm on the security issue, Aminul admitted that all stakeholders in Bangladesh want the team to participate in the World Cup and expressed hope that the ICC might still reconsider.

“I am hoping for a miracle from the ICC,” he said.

“The Bangladesh players want to play the World Cup. The Bangladesh government wants Bangladesh to play the World Cup. But a government doesn’t only consider players, it considers everything when taking a decision.”

In a statement issued after the board meeting, the ICC said Bangladesh’s request was rejected after extensive security assessments, including independent reviews.

“The decision was taken after considering all security assessments conducted, all of which indicated there was no threat to Bangladesh players, officials, media personnel or fans at any of the tournament venues in India,” the ICC said.

The governing body added that making changes at this stage was not feasible and warned that altering the schedule without a credible security threat could set a dangerous precedent for future ICC events.

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