Bangladesh have effectively withdrawn from next month’s T20 World Cup after refusing to travel to India, the tournament hosts.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board said it was willing to play only if matches were moved outside India, a request rejected by the ICC. Despite global assurances over player safety, Dhaka cited security fears following the forced IPL exit of Mustafizur Rahman and strained political ties between the neighbours.
Bangladesh are scheduled to play group matches in Kolkata and Mumbai from February 7. ICC sources indicated Scotland could replace Bangladesh if the decision stands, dealing a major blow to the tournament’s audience reach.