Bangladesh Refuses to Play in India, ICC Threat Sparks Accusations of Hypocrisy

*Islamabad:* The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has refused to play its T20 World Cup matches in India and will formally communicate the team’s concerns to the International Cricket Council (ICC) today.

Sources report that the ICC rejected Bangladesh’s request to relocate the matches outside India and warned that refusing to play in India could result in the loss of points. The decision has sparked widespread criticism on social media.

Many fans criticized the ICC for double standards. Social media user Saleem Khalique questioned why the ICC did not object when India avoided visiting Pakistan due to security concerns, yet Bangladesh is being penalized for citing similar issues. Another user, Suhail Imran, pointed out that the ICC never pressured India to tour Pakistan, calling the move “a clear example of hypocrisy.”

Observers also compared it to the Champions Trophy, where some matches were shifted to Dubai when India refused to tour Pakistan, but Bangladesh now faces potential point deductions for refusing to play in India.

Later, the BCB issued a statement clarifying that the ICC has agreed to work with Bangladesh regarding their concerns. The board denied media reports suggesting an ultimatum and said the ICC’s communications were taken out of context.

Tensions follow an earlier incident in which Kolkata Knight Riders removed Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL squad after threats from Hindu extremists in India. The episode strained relations between the two cricket boards and prompted Bangladesh to announce it would not send its team to India.