In a surprising turn of events, the ICC has decided to exclude Bangladesh from the upcoming T20 World Cup, allowing Scotland to step in. This decision follows the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) refusal to send its team to India due to security concerns, particularly after Mustafizur Rahman’s removal from the IPL. The BCB had been vocal about wanting their matches relocated to Sri Lanka and even proposed switching their group with Ireland, but the Irish Cricket Board firmly rejected these ideas. During an ICC Board meeting, a decisive 14-2 vote favored allowing the Bangladesh team to compete in India.
The ICC issued a 24-hour ultimatum for the BCB to reconsider its position. However, with Asif Nazrul standing firm, Bangladesh’s hopes of participating in the T20 World Cup dwindled. It has been reported that key ICC officials, including chairman Jay Shah, were in Dubai when they communicated the decision to BCB chairman Aminul Islam Bulbul via email late Friday.
This unexpected exclusion will have significant financial repercussions for the BCB, which stands to lose a participation fee of $500,000 (approximately ₹4.5 crore). Moreover, the broader implications for ICC’s annual revenue could be even more substantial, reflecting the ongoing challenges faced by the cricketing nation.
As it stands, Bangladesh has yet to secure any ICC senior titles, leaving fans and players alike disappointed as they prepare to watch the tournament from the sidelines.