Bangladesh Slams ICC After Under-19 World Cup Exit; Accuses Tournament Organizers of Unfair Treatment

Dhaka: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has raised strong objections against the International Cricket Council (ICC) following the early exit of its team from the Under-19 World Cup. The board has accused the ICC of subjecting the team to unfair treatment during the tournament, claiming that excessive travel caused fatigue among players and negatively affected their performance.

Travel Woes Blamed for Team’s Exit
This is not the first time tensions have flared between Bangladesh and the ICC. Previously, Bangladesh had withdrawn from the T20 World Cup after the ICC rejected their request to move matches out of India. Habibul Bashar, Bangladesh’s Sports Development Coordinator, elaborated on the current situation, stating that the team had a grueling travel schedule. Players were constantly moving from one venue to another, which disrupted preparation and affected performance.

To mitigate fatigue ahead of the India match, the BCB even arranged an internal flight at its own expense, as bus journeys were too long and exhausting for the players.

ICC Policies Criticized
Bashar highlighted that the ICC had prohibited domestic air travel for teams, officials, and staff during this year’s tournament, forcing them to rely solely on bus transportation. He said, “To prevent our boys from getting overly tired before the India match, the BCB paid for an internal flight because the bus journeys were too long, and direct flights were limited.”

He also criticized the ICC’s scheduling, noting that initially the team was supposed to play two warm-up matches in Masvingo before heading to Bulawayo for their first two group matches—a four-hour drive. However, the ICC suddenly changed the schedule, forcing the team to travel repeatedly between venues. “We had informed the ICC about the travel burden before the tournament began and requested that our practice games be rescheduled to reduce travel. But they ignored our concerns. Once the tournament starts, such changes are nearly impossible,” Bashar added.

Other Teams Faced Lighter Schedules
Compared to Bangladesh, other teams had relatively easier travel arrangements. For instance, India played all warm-up and group matches in Bulawayo. Australia played all warm-up and group matches in Windhoek, Namibia, and traveled only for their last Super Six match against West Indies. Pakistan played group and early Super Six matches in Harare, traveling only for their final Super Six match against India. England’s warm-up and group matches were mostly in Harare, with just one warm-up game in Bulawayo.

The BCB’s statement underscores the board’s frustration over perceived inequities in the tournament’s organization and scheduling, highlighting the challenges faced by young players in international competitions.