Mumbai, Jan 22 (NationPress) The Bangladesh Cricket Board has asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) for an extension of 48 hours to communicate their decision to the government regarding their participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup matches in India, according to a news article.

BCB representatives, wishing to remain anonymous, informed Telecom Asia Sport on Wednesday, shortly after the ICC denied Bangladesh’s request to relocate their matches from India. This came after the BCB struggled to garner adequate support, apart from the Pakistan Cricket Board, during a voting session in a virtual meeting involving 16 members.

The ICC has set a final deadline for Bangladesh, giving them 24 hours to determine if they will proceed to India for the T20 World Cup, which is scheduled from February 7 to March 8. Should they fail to reach a decision, Scotland is likely to take their place in the tournament.

“The Bangladesh players are eager to participate in the World Cup. The government supports their involvement too. However, we have concerns regarding the safety of our players in India. We proposed relocating the matches to Sri Lanka or suggested a swap with Ireland or Zimbabwe, but Sri Lanka declined our request for a new team in their group,” a BCB official shared with www.telecomasia.net regarding the discussions during the virtual ICC Board meeting.

“We expressed our need for one final opportunity to consult our government after the vote, and they acknowledged this as a valid concern, granting us 24 to 48 hours to respond.”

“We do not wish to pressure the government. Although the ICC has turned us down, we will seek one last discussion with the government before relaying their feedback to the ICC,” the official stated to www.telecomasia.net.

The report cited the official mentioning that the government will evaluate all options before making a definitive choice. “It’s essential to consider that a government not only prioritizes the players' safety but also weighs various factors before arriving at a conclusion,” the source noted.

Officials from Bangladesh engaged in discussions with ICC representatives in Dhaka over the weekend concerning the deadlock, but no resolution was achieved after the BCB sought to move their matches out of India. This came after the BCCI instructed IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur Rahman for the forthcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 amidst ongoing political tensions between the two nations.

The website reported that BCB officials are already in contact with high-ranking government officials to keep them updated on the latest developments following the ICC meeting, seeking their guidance before making a final decision.