"India played in one ground, it was a privilege": BCB President slams ICC for double standards

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President, Aminul Islam, has accused the International Cricket Council (ICC) of double standards after the ICC denied their request to shift their ICC T20 World Cup 2026 matches out of India due to security concerns.

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Notably, on Wednesday, January 21, the ICC rejected the BCB’s request, stating that the tournament would proceed as scheduled. This decision was taken after the ICC reviewed the situation in India and deemed it safe to travel to the country. 

Speaking to the media in Dhaka on Thursday, January 22, Aminul Islam has slammed the ICC for giving India the privilege of playing all their games in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign at one venue in Dubai.

"When a country refused to travel to another country for the Champions Trophy last February, the ICC organised a neutral venue for them. The team played all their Champions Trophy matches in that neutral venue. They played in one ground, staying in one hotel. It was a privilege," Aminul Islam said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Furthermore, he added that Sri Lanka is not actually a co-host, but they are part of the hybrid model, where only one country, Pakistan, is going to play, affirming the BCB’s decision of not playing in India.

"We are calling Sri Lanka co-hosts, but they are not co-hosts. Sri Lanka is part of the hybrid model where one country is going to play. We indicated to the ICC that since our government is reluctant (to let us play in India), we want to take that option. Still, they denied our request. We will communicate with the ICC today. We are ready to play the World Cup in Sri Lanka. We don't want to play in India," he added.

If Bangladesh is out of the showpiece campaign, Scotland will replace them in the tournament. Bangladesh was scheduled to play alongside the West Indies, Italy, England, and Nepal in Group B.

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