Pakistan has reportedly expressed interest in hosting Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup matches after the team refused to travel to India for the tournament.
Citing Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sources, media reports have said that if Sri Lankan venues remain unavailable, Pakistan stands ready to step in. The Board pointed to its successful hosting of the Champions Trophy and ICC Women’s Qualifier as evidence of its capability to organise World Cup matches.
“Pakistan’s venues are fully prepared to host T20 World Cup matches,” the reports said, adding that all stadiums meet the requirements for international competitions.
The offer comes after Bangladesh declared it will not send its team to India for the tournament.
The controversy began when Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) dropped star Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from its Indian Premier League (IPL) squad following directives from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The move sparked outrage among cricket fans and administrators in Bangladesh, who called for the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to take reciprocal action. The BCB subsequently cited security concerns and requested the ICC relocate its group matches from India to Sri Lanka.
India and Sri Lanka are co-hosting the 20-team tournament starting February 7, with all of Bangladesh’s group matches originally scheduled at Indian venues.
Following two days of silence, the ICC and BCB held a virtual meeting on January 6 to address the dispute. The BCB has now agreed to work closely with the ICC to resolve security concerns.
“The ICC has conveyed its willingness to work closely with the BCB to address the concerns, and has assured that the board’s inputs will be welcomed and duly considered as part of the detailed security planning for the event,” the BCB stated on January 7.
The Board committed to “continue constructive engagement with the ICC and relevant event authorities in a cooperative and professional manner to arrive at an affable and practical solution.”
ESPNCricinfo reported that the ICC told Bangladesh during the meeting that the team must travel to India or risk forfeiting points. However, the BCB dismissed the report as “completely false and unfounded,” stating such claims do not reflect the nature of communications received from the ICC.
Bangladesh’s interim government has escalated the dispute by banning IPL broadcasts.
Relations between the nations have remained strained since August 2024, when former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to New Delhi after an uprising ended her rule. Bangladesh blames India for supporting Hasina during her time in power.
The ICC is yet to make a final decision on whether it will relocate Bangladesh’s matches, with the tournament’s opening match just over a month away.