With the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 set to begin in early February, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has declared that its national team will not travel to India under the current circumstances. The board has officially asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) to move all of Bangladesh’s group-stage fixtures to venues outside India, primarily citing safety and security concerns for players and officials amid strained bilateral relations.
The decision follows an emergency BCB board meeting and comes on the heels of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) directing Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from his IPL 2026 contract. Although not explicitly linked by either board, the timing has fueled speculation in cricket circles, with some Bangladeshi officials viewing it as indicative of broader tensions.
Bangladesh, placed in Group C alongside England, West Indies, Italy, and Nepal, was originally scheduled to play three matches at Eden Gardens in Kolkata and one at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Shifting these games would involve complex rearrangements, including venue availability in Sri Lanka (where Pakistan’s matches are already allocated due to similar geopolitical issues), security protocols, and broadcasting logistics—all with limited time before the tournament opener on February 7.
The ICC has yet to respond publicly, but sources suggest contingency plans are being discussed. Precedents like hybrid models in recent events (e.g., India’s Champions Trophy games shifted due to Pakistan relations) could influence the outcome, though relocating one team’s fixtures mid-preparation is rare.
For the Bangladeshi squad, training continues amid uncertainty, with emphasis on player welfare. Indian venues remain prepared as primary hosts, but any schedule changes could impact travel and rest for multiple teams.
This episode underscores how geopolitical frictions can disrupt major international tournaments, challenging the ICC to uphold fairness, practicality, and the event’s overall integrity. A swift resolution is anticipated in the coming days to maintain momentum for the global spectacle.
