The decision follows an internal board meeting and comes after tense discussions with the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding the relocation of Bangladesh’s group-stage matches.
The announcement follows a January 21 ICC meeting with BCB directors, during which the ICC reportedly issued a firm deadline. The governing body indicated that if Bangladesh withdrew, Scotland would replace them ahead of the tournament’s scheduled February 7 start.
BCB President Aminul Islam Bulbul expressed frustration over the situation, emphasizing that Bangladesh’s concerns extend beyond a single incident. “We will continue to communicate with the ICC. We want to play the World Cup, but we won’t play in India. We will keep fighting. There were some shocking calls in the ICC Board Meeting. The Mustafizur issue is not an isolated single issue. They (India) were the sole decision makers in that issue,” he said.
Bulbul criticized the ICC for denying Bangladesh’s request to shift matches outside India. “ICC had denied us our request to shift our matches away from India. We are not sure about the status of world cricket. Its popularity is going down. They have locked away 200 million people. Cricket is going to the Olympics, but if a country like us is not going there, it is ICC’s failure,” he added.
The decision marks a significant development ahead of the T20 World Cup, raising questions about tournament logistics, fan engagement, and regional cricket diplomacy. With Bangladesh stepping back, the ICC faces the challenge of ensuring smooth scheduling while addressing ongoing concerns from member nations.