Top News

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has written to the International Cricket Council (ICC) seeking the intervention of the Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) following its exit from the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The move comes only hours after the BCB reiterated its position that the Bangladesh men’s team would not travel to India for the tournament, citing security concerns. According to a report by TimesofIndia.com, the latest correspondence marks a further escalation in the dispute between the BCB and global cricket’s governing body.

Bangladesh are scheduled to play three group-stage matches in Kolkata and one in Mumbai during the tournament, which begins on February 7. The BCB has maintained that adequate security assurances have not been provided for its players and support staff. The ICC, however, has rejected those concerns and has also turned down proposals to alter group allocations, including switching Bangladesh with Ireland, who are slated to play their matches in Sri Lanka. The ICC has cited logistical and operational constraints behind its decision.

The latest letter indicates that the BCB has not yet formally communicated a final position on its participation, even as timelines tighten ahead of the tournament’s opening match.

The Dispute Resolution Committee is an independent arbitration body that deals with cricket-related disputes involving the ICC, its member boards, players and officials once internal mechanisms have been exhausted. Based in London and governed by English law, the DRC conducts confidential proceedings and is designed to ensure neutrality in the interpretation of ICC regulations, decisions and contractual obligations.

The committee does not function as an appellate authority but instead examines the legality and application of ICC rules and agreements. Its decisions are final and binding, with challenges permitted only on limited procedural grounds. The DRC comprises senior legal experts and administrators from different regions, with Hon Michael Beloff KC serving as chair.

Read also: "Informed" not "asked"! Bangladesh player made shocking reveal after ICC rules out BCB from '26 T20 World Cup

Multiple reports earlier suggested that the ICC had issued an ultimatum to the BCB, asking it to confirm participation by January 22 or risk forfeiting its place in the tournament. Scotland are reportedly next in line to replace Bangladesh, based on ICC men’s T20I rankings, should the vacancy arise.

The ICC has consistently stated that security assessments have been conducted in coordination with Indian authorities and that all participating teams are subject to the same protocols. The BCB, however, remains unconvinced and has now opted for a formal dispute mechanism.

With less than three weeks remaining before the tournament begins, it remains uncertain whether the DRC process can deliver a resolution within the required timeframe. The situation continues to place the ICC and one of its full member boards at odds, with implications for tournament planning and participation still unresolved.