Bangladesh board cites exhausting travel and last-minute changes as key factors
January 28, 2026: Bangladesh’s exit from the ongoing ICC Under-19 World Cup has triggered fresh controversy, with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) accusing the International Cricket Council of unfair scheduling. BCB game development coordinator Habibul Bashar said the team was adversely affected by frequent travel and sudden changes to its itinerary, claiming the issue went beyond on-field performance. While admitting tactical shortcomings against England and India, Bashar stressed that the travel schedule placed unnecessary strain on the players.
According to Bashar, Bangladesh were initially meant to play two warm-up matches in Masvingo before shifting base to Bulawayo. However, a revised ICC schedule forced the team to play practice games at different venues, involving repeated journeys of up to four hours. To reduce fatigue ahead of key matches against India and New Zealand, the BCB reportedly paid out of its own pocket for internal flights, as long bus journeys and limited direct flights posed logistical challenges.
The travel demands continued throughout the tournament, with the team undertaking a nine-hour bus journey from Harare to Bulawayo during the monsoon season for their opening group match, followed by further back-and-forth travel for subsequent fixtures. Bashar revealed that the board had raised concerns with the ICC before the tournament but received no relief. In contrast, he pointed out that teams such as India, Pakistan, England and Australia faced significantly lighter travel schedules during the competition.