The BCB says the ‘ultimatum’ issued by the ICC is baseless

Khabor Wala Desk

Published: 7th January 2026, 8:45 AM

The BCB says the ‘ultimatum’ issued by the ICC is baseless

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has responded firmly to reports suggesting that the International Cricket Council (ICC) issued an ‘ultimatum’ demanding Bangladesh’s participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup in India, citing security concerns. The board clarified the situation in an official statement, emphasising that such claims are entirely baseless.

In its statement, the BCB said that it had received a formal response from the ICC regarding the concerns raised in an earlier communication about the safety of players and staff during the tournament. The ICC expressed a willingness to work closely with the BCB to address all issues and reassured the board that its views would be welcomed and given due consideration in the final security planning.

The ICC reportedly stated that it was committed to resolving all concerns collaboratively and highlighted that Bangladesh’s input would form an integral part of the detailed security arrangements for the tournament.

However, contrary to recent media reports, the ICC has not issued any ultimatum compelling Bangladesh to travel to India for the World Cup. The BCB categorically rejected such claims, describing them as “false, unfounded, and completely inconsistent with the nature or content of the official communication received from the ICC.”

The BCB emphasised the importance of maintaining a constructive and professional dialogue with the ICC and the relevant event authorities to ensure Bangladesh’s participation in the 2026 T20 World Cup is both smooth and successful.

For clarity, the BCB summarised the key points of its communication with the ICC as follows:

Issue	BCB Position	ICC Response
Security concerns	Raised in a formal letter	Will address collaboratively with BCB input
Alleged ultimatum	Denied as false and baseless	No ultimatum issued
Participation	Subject to safety assessment	BCB’s feedback welcomed in security planning
Future dialogue	Committed to professional, constructive engagement	Open to discussions to ensure smooth participation

The BCB urged all stakeholders and media outlets to report responsibly and refrain from circulating misinformation that could misrepresent the board’s intentions or the ICC’s communications.

With the T20 World Cup just months away, the BCB reiterated that it would continue working in close coordination with the ICC, prioritising the safety of players and staff while maintaining Bangladesh’s strong presence on the global cricket stage.