Bangladesh Withdraws from T20 World Cup in India; Scotland Likely Replacement

New Delhi: Bangladesh has decided to boycott the T20 Cricket World Cup scheduled to be held in India. The decision comes after the International Cricket Council (ICC) rejected Bangladesh’s request to shift its India-based matches to Sri Lanka.

The ICC informed the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) that Bangladesh must play its matches in India, and if it is unwilling to do so, Scotland would be considered as a replacement team. Following this communication, Bangladesh announced its decision to withdraw.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board took the final decision after a meeting between Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul and members of the national team. The ICC had given the BCB a 24-hour deadline on Wednesday to confirm its participation in the tournament.

While reiterating its interest in participating in the World Cup, the BCB clarified that it does not wish to play the tournament in India. The board also stated that it would continue discussions with the ICC in an attempt to resolve the issue.

Scotland Likely Replacement

Given the current situation, Scotland is likely to replace Bangladesh in Group C of the World Cup. Scotland is expected to be considered due to its higher ranking among the available teams.

IPL Controversy Triggered the Dispute

The dispute reportedly began after pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman was dropped by IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders. The decision was linked to political developments in Bangladesh, and an advisory issued by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to the Kolkata team reportedly angered Bangladeshi authorities.

Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal’s remarks, urging decision-makers to consider the future of players before taking extreme steps, also sparked controversy. BCB Finance Committee Chairman Nazmul Islam, who accused Tamim of being an “Indian agent,” was later removed from his position following protests by players.

The action came after players threatened to boycott the Bangladesh Premier League, intensifying pressure on the board.