The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rejected Bangladesh’s appeal against the decision to host the men’s team’s T20 World Cup 2026 matches in India, leaving Scotland on standby as a potential replacement if Bangladesh refuses to travel.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had approached the ICC’s Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) in a last-ditch effort to overturn a ruling by the ICC Board of Directors. The board had voted overwhelmingly to keep Bangladesh’s group matches in India following an independent security assessment. ICC officials, however, said the DRC cannot hear the appeal, as it falls outside the committee’s authority.
Bangladesh’s interim government has stated that the team will not travel to India due to security concerns—a position supported by youth and sports adviser Asif Nazrul. The standoff escalated earlier this month after Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was released from his IPL contract with Kolkata Knight Riders, increasing political and sporting tensions between the neighbouring countries.
An ICC source said the DRC, chaired by English lawyer Michael Beloff, is not an appeals body and does not have the power to overturn decisions made by the ICC Board. Under its mandate, the committee cannot review rulings passed by the governing body’s directors.
The ICC Board had voted 14–2 to retain Bangladesh’s fixtures in India, citing a security assessment that rated the risk level as “low to moderate.” Despite this, Bangladeshi officials maintain that the final decision rests with the government, not the BCB.
With the T20 World Cup 2026 scheduled to begin on February 7, ICC officials have confirmed that Scotland, the highest-ranked team outside the qualification positions, has been placed on standby in case Bangladesh withdraws.
A formal announcement on Bangladesh’s participation is expected within days, as ICC chairman Jay Shah consults with officials in Dubai. The situation has raised uncertainty around the tournament, with political tensions, security concerns, and cricket governance issues coming to the forefront just weeks before the event. https://dmtn1.com/icc-rejects-bangladesh-appeal-puts-scotland-on-standby-for-t20-world-cup-2026/
