BCCI Faces Challenge as Bangladesh Seeks T20 World Cup Venue Change

• Bangladesh informed the ICC it will not travel to India for the T20 World Cup.
• BCB cited safety concerns and requested relocation of its matches to an alternative venue.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has taken the extraordinary step of informing the International Cricket Council (ICC) that it will not send its national team to India for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, citing serious concerns over the safety and security of its players and support staff. The decision follows heightened tensions surrounding the release of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders squad in the Indian Premier League (IPL), a move that triggered political and diplomatic sensitivities.

Mustafizur, who was signed by KKR for around ₹9.20 crore in the IPL mini-auction, was subsequently released from the team on the directive of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) — a decision that drew strong criticism from cricket officials and government advisers in Bangladesh. In response, the BCB revoked his No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the IPL, reinforcing its stance that the current climate is not conducive to sending a national contingent to India.

The BCB’s official statement said the board had conducted a detailed review of recent developments and acted on advice from the Bangladesh government, concluding that competing in India under the present conditions could compromise the team’s safety. Consequentially, the board has formally requested the ICC to relocate all of Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup matches — originally scheduled to be played in Kolkata and Mumbai — to a venue outside India, with Sri Lanka emerging as a possible alternative host for the group games.

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The ICC has acknowledged the communication and is examining the request, though no final decision has yet been announced. Meanwhile, the BCCI has described shifting venues as a “logistical nightmare”, noting challenges with rescheduling and broader tournament arrangements should Bangladesh’s proposal be accepted.

BCB officials, including president Aminul Islam, have underscored that dialogue with the BCCI has been limited in this matter, with the board choosing to engage directly with the ICC as the governing authority for the event. The situation illustrates how sporting decisions are being influenced by broader regional tensions.

The Bangladesh team remains committed to participating in the T20 World Cup but has made it clear that playing matches on Indian soil is currently untenable. As the ICC weighs the request, cricketing stakeholders will closely watch how the situation unfolds, given its implications for the event’s schedule and international cricket relations.