Bangladesh Urges ICC to Relocate T20 World Cup 2026 Matches, Declines India Trip

With less than five weeks to go until the tournament begins, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has declared that it will not send its team to India for the upcoming Men’s T20 World Cup. The BCB has formally requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to consider relocating Bangladesh’s matches to venues outside India.

This decision was announced shortly after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) instructed Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League season.

The BCB released a statement on Sunday evening following an emergency meeting to discuss the team’s participation in the World Cup, amidst rising political tensions between India and Bangladesh.

“After a comprehensive assessment of the current situation and increasing concerns about the safety of the Bangladesh squad in India, and considering the advice from the Bangladesh Government, the Board has decided that the Bangladesh national team will not travel to India under the present conditions,” the statement read.

The BCB has requested the ICC to consider relocating all of Bangladesh’s matches to an alternative venue, emphasizing the necessity of this action to protect the safety and welfare of the players and officials, ensuring they can compete in a secure environment.

This decision follows consultations with the Bangladesh Sports Ministry. The ICC is expected to reply to the BCB’s request soon.

The Men’s T20 World Cup is set to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8. Sri Lanka is scheduled to host 20 of the 55 matches, including all of Pakistan’s fixtures, with agreed neutral venues for India-Pakistan matches in ICC events until 2028.

Bangladesh is supposed to play three league matches in Kolkata, with its final league game in Mumbai. Although the BCCI, as the main host, has a limited role in such decisions, a BCCI source mentioned that changing the fixtures is unlikely with the tournament so close. Nevertheless, if the ICC intervenes, the BCCI would need to comply.

Recently, the BCCI requested Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur Rahman, who was acquired for ₹9.20 crore at the last auction, without specifying a reason.

Published on January 4, 2026.