Sports, Jan 7: The International Cricket Council has turned down the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s request to shift Bangladesh’s matches from India to Sri Lanka for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, according to a report published by ESPNcricinfo. The decision was conveyed during a virtual meeting held on January 6 between senior ICC officials and representatives of the BCB.
As per the report, the ICC made it clear that it would not approve any change in venues despite the security concerns raised by the Bangladesh board. The global governing body reportedly informed the BCB that the Bangladesh senior men’s team would be required to travel to India and play their scheduled fixtures, failing which the team could face forfeiture of points in the tournament.
Neither the ICC nor the BCB has issued an official statement confirming the outcome of the meeting. The virtual discussion was convened after the BCB wrote to the ICC on January 4, formally requesting that Bangladesh’s matches be relocated outside India and proposing Sri Lanka as an alternative venue.
Under the existing schedule, Bangladesh are set to open their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign on February 7 against two-time champions West Indies at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. They are also scheduled to face Italy on February 9 and 2022 champions England at the same venue, before travelling to Mumbai to take on Nepal at the Wankhede Stadium.
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, with the tournament beginning on February 7 with the opening match between Pakistan and the Netherlands in Colombo.
The issue gained prominence after the BCB cited safety and security concerns for its players, stating that the national team would not travel to India under the prevailing circumstances. In an earlier press release, the board said the decision was taken following an assessment of the situation and advice from the Bangladesh government.
The matter has been further complicated by recent developments in the Indian Premier League, where Kolkata Knight Riders released Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad. The move reportedly followed a directive from the Board of Control for Cricket in India, with BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirming that the franchise had been asked to release the player and could seek a replacement if needed.
Mustafizur Rahman had been bought by KKR for Rs 9.20 crore at the IPL auction held in December. His inclusion had drawn political criticism in India amid concerns over attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh.
With the ICC standing firm on the existing schedule, uncertainty now surrounds Bangladesh’s participation in matches slated to be held in India during the T20 World Cup 2026.
