BCB throws last dice! Moves to Dispute Committee over T20 World Cup matches in India

With the clock ticking down to the T20 World Cup, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has made a dramatic last-ditch move by approaching the ICC’s Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC), challenging the decision to hold their World Cup matches in India.

The BCB has written to the DRC seeking a reversal of the ICC Operations Council’s ruling, which confirmed India as the venue for Bangladesh’s fixtures. However, the appeal appears destined to hit a dead end, with sources indicating that the committee lacks the legal authority to even hear the case.

Despite the ICC keeping Scotland on standby as a contingency option, the Aminul Islam Bulbul-led BCB has chosen to exhaust every possible route. A senior BCB source confirmed that the board approached the DRC purely as a final option, knowing well that the odds were stacked against them.

The DRC, chaired by renowned legal expert Michael Beloff (KC), comprises an 11-member panel of international jurists and legal professionals. Yet, its own mandate clearly states that it cannot act as an appellate body against decisions taken by the ICC Board of Directors.

That detail could prove fatal to Bangladesh’s case. The ICC Board had earlier voted 14-2 in favour of staging Bangladesh’s matches in India after an independent security assessment classified the threat level as low to moderate.

Still, Bangladesh remains firm in its stance. Interim government sports advisor Asif Nazrul has repeatedly stated that the final call rests with the government, not the cricket board, and has maintained that the team will not travel to India citing security concerns.

If the DRC rejects the plea, as is widely expected – the BCB’s only remaining legal avenue would be the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland, a move that could further escalate tensions between the board and the ICC.

Meanwhile, ICC chairman Jay Shah has reportedly returned to Dubai from Namibia, where the Under-19 World Cup is underway. A formal decision on Bangladesh’s participation and possible alternatives is expected by Saturday.

The controversy had intensified earlier after Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman was released from Kolkata Knight Riders following BCCI directives, a development that further strained relations.

As things stand, Bangladesh’s World Cup future hangs in the balance, with legal roadblocks, political pressure, and cricketing consequences all colliding at once.