Dhaka [Bangladesh], January 7: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rejected the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) request to shift their T20 World Cup 2026 matches from India to Sri Lanka, citing tournament protocols. The decision means Bangladesh’s senior men’s team must travel to India to participate or risk forfeiting points.
Bangladesh had requested the move over “safety and security” concerns for players amid recent geopolitical tensions and controversies. The team is scheduled to open their campaign on February 7 against West Indies at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, followed by matches against Italy and England at the same venue, before travelling to Mumbai to face Nepal at Wankhede Stadium. The tournament itself begins on February 7 with Pakistan facing the Netherlands in Colombo.
The developments come after Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) removed Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad following a directive from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), in response to growing concerns over treatment of minorities in Bangladesh. The BCB had held an emergency meeting and initially resolved not to send the team to India under the prevailing conditions, citing advice from the Bangladesh government.
Despite these concerns, the ICC has maintained that Bangladesh must travel to India to fulfill their tournament schedule, leaving the board to navigate ongoing security and diplomatic sensitivities ahead of the World Cup.
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