Asif Akbar Warns of World Cup Walkover if Venue Not Moved from India

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has firmly stated that Bangladesh may opt for a walkover in the upcoming men’s T20 World Cup if the International Cricket Council (ICC) refuses to relocate the tournament venues outside India, amidst growing security concerns. Asif Akbar, a BCB director, made the comments on Tuesday, 06 January, following a tense round of talks between the board and the global cricketing body.

Speaking to the media, Asif Akbar emphasized that Bangladesh would not participate in the tournament if held in India due to security reasons. "If the ICC does not change Bangladesh’s World Cup venue from India, Bangladesh will go for a walkover," Akbar confirmed, asserting the decision would essentially be a withdrawal from the tournament.

The statement came ahead of a scheduled virtual meeting between the ICC and BCB, though conflicting reports emerged after the discussion. ESPNcricinfo reported that the ICC had rejected Bangladesh's request to move their matches out of India on security grounds and warned the BCB that failing to travel to India would result in forfeiting points. However, the BCB denied that any such ultimatum had been issued, and no official statements were made by the ICC, BCB, or the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) following the meeting.

The BCB’s decision stems from concerns over player safety, particularly in light of the Mustafizur Rahman incident, and a formal letter was sent to the ICC on 04 January requesting that Bangladesh’s matches be moved outside India. Akbar reiterated that the BCB had already made its decision and was not open to any further discussion on the matter. “We remain negative about playing in India, but we are ready to play in Sri Lanka,” he stated.
 

Sources familiar with the discussions indicated that the ICC had no security assessment suggesting any specific threat to the Bangladesh team in India, and while the final decision is still pending, there is no indication that the ICC will change its position. A formal response from the ICC is expected by 10 January.

The T20 World Cup is scheduled to take place from 07 February to 08 March, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Bangladesh is scheduled to play in Kolkata and Mumbai against West Indies, Italy, England, and Nepal. If Bangladesh opts not to participate, it could significantly complicate the tournament and strain cricketing relations between the two neighboring countries.