ICC Faces Logistical Test as Bangladesh Pushes for Venue Shift Ahead of T20 World Cup
BCB refuses India travel, demands matches shifted amid tensions.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has officially approached the International Cricket Council (ICC) with a formal request to relocate all of Bangladesh's fixtures in the forthcoming 2026 Men's T20 World Cup from Indian venues to Sri Lanka, explicitly invoking heightened concerns regarding the safety and security of the national team amid deteriorating bilateral relations with India.
This unprecedented move stems directly from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) compelling three-time IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders to release star left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their squad for the 2026 season, despite his retention at INR 9.20 crore, a decision influenced by reports of targeted violence against Hindu minorities in Bangladesh that provoked strong domestic backlash in India.
In response, the BCB convened an urgent board meeting on January 4, 2026, and subsequently issued a statement confirming the letter to the ICC, asserting that the prevailing environment renders travel to India untenable for the entire contingent, effectively mirroring longstanding arrangements where Pakistan's matches are hosted in Sri Lanka due to similar geopolitical constraints.
Also Read: Bangladesh Refuses to Tour India for T20 World Cup 2026 Over Player Safety Concerns
Under the original tournament schedule, Bangladesh's Group C commitments comprise three encounters at Kolkata's iconic Eden Gardens—facing West Indies on February 7, debutants Italy on February 9, and defending champions England on February 14—before concluding the league stage against Nepal at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium on February 17, within the expanded 20-team event co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.
The controversy gained further momentum when Bangladesh's interim government sports advisor Asif Nazrul publicly endorsed the BCB's position, condemning perceived affronts to national pride and cricketers, directing the board to underscore security risks in communications with the ICC, and even advocating for a halt to IPL broadcasts in Bangladesh, as the ICC, under chairman Jay Shah, grapples with a potential last-minute logistical restructuring mere weeks before the opening match.
Also Read: Bangladesh Refuses to Tour India for T20 World Cup 2026 Over Player Safety Concerns
