If Bangladesh does not play, 200 million viewers will miss out — Bulbul

Bangladesh has openly rejected the deadline set by cricket’s global governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC), over participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup. BCB President Aminul Islam Bulbul warned that if Bangladesh refuses to play in India, the ICC could face a potential loss of 200 million viewers.

On Thursday, a prolonged meeting was held at Dhaka’s Intercontinental Hotel involving national cricketers, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) officials, and government policymakers. Despite extended deliberations, Bangladesh remains resolute in its position: no matches will be played on Indian soil. Instead, the BCB and the government are insisting that Bangladesh’s fixtures be relocated to Sri Lanka.

Speaking at a press conference, Bulbul stated:
"Even though the ICC has given us a 24-hour ultimatum, a global organisation cannot impose such a directive. We will once again present our proposal to play in Sri Lanka to the ICC."

He emphasised the financial stakes involved, noting that the ICC could lose an estimated 200 million viewers if Bangladesh withdraws, with the resulting losses being the responsibility of the governing body itself.

Furthermore, Bulbul expressed opposition to the idea of recognising Sri Lanka as a co-host under what ICC officials had described as a ‘hybrid model’. He remarked on his surprise at such discussions during ICC meetings.

Earlier, Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul clarified the government’s stance, making it clear that the decision to avoid playing in India is a state-level directive. He commented:
"We remain hopeful that the ICC will allow us to play our matches in Sri Lanka. Avoiding India is a policy decision endorsed by our government."

While the players have expressed a strong desire to compete, the government’s security concerns have prevented their wishes from being accommodated.

On Wednesday, the ICC dismissed Bangladesh’s security concerns and warned that failure to play in India as per the original schedule could result in another team—potentially Scotland—being invited to replace Bangladesh in the tournament.