The Bangladesh Cricket Board has formally reiterated to the International Cricket Council its position that the national team will not play its upcoming T20I World Cup matches in India. The firm stance follows weeks of virtual discussions between BCB officials and the ICC after Bangladesh first raised security concerns.

Andrew Ephgrave, general manager of the ICC’s Integrity Unit, travelled to Dhaka for direct talks yesterday, meeting local representatives at a five–star hotel in the capital. Joining the afternoon meeting virtually was Gaurav Saxena, the ICC’s general manager of events and corporate communications, who according to multiple media reports, was unable to attend in person after failing to receive a visa from Bangladesh High Commission in time.

In a press release issued last night, the BCB said the meeting with the two ICC officials covered issues related to Bangladesh’s participation in the tournament. The board formally repeated its request to relocate all of Bangladesh’s matches to co–host Sri Lanka, citing government security concerns for players, supporters, media personnel, and other stakeholders.

Describing the talks as “cordial, constructive, and professional”, the BCB said both sides explored possible solutions. They discussed the logistical option of moving Bangladesh to a different group with minimal disruption to tournament structure. In the current ‘Group C’, Bangladesh is scheduled to face West Indies, England, Nepal, and Italy, with three matches in Kolkata and one in Mumbai. All ‘Group B’ fixtures, however, are scheduled for venues in Sri Lanka, creating scope for a complex group swap.

Present at the meeting were BCB President Aminul Islam Bulbul, vice presidents Md Shakawath Hossain and Faruque Ahmed, director and cricket operations committee chairman Nazmul Abedeen Fahim, and chief executive Nizam Uddin Chowdhury.

The ICC officials offered no immediate decision, saying they would consult ICC chairman Jay Shah before conveying a final response. Jay Shah, son of Indian home minister Amit Shah and former secretary of the Indian cricket board, heads the ICC.

The impasse follows an escalating tit–for–tat sequence: two weeks ago, the Board of Control for Cricket in India instructed Kolkata Knight Riders to drop Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL. Later, the BCB emailed the ICC citing security concerns as grounds for refusing to play World Cup matches in India. Subsequent discussions on risk assessment failed, with the BCB declining to reconsider despite ICC appeals for flexibility. The board remains firm, saying Litton Das’s squad will not travel to India for its fixtures.

The ICC maintains Bangladesh should play in India as scheduled, arguing tournament logistics are finalised and venue changes would be highly disruptive. Ephgrave’s visit to Dhaka was intended to break the deadlock. Yesterday’s talks, however, ended without a resolution.