Play In India Or Lose Points: ICC Rejects Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup Plea
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rejected the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) request to shift Bangladesh’s matches in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 from India to Sri Lanka, according to a report by ESPNcricinfo.
The decision was conveyed during a virtual meeting between ICC officials and BCB representatives on Tuesday. During the discussion, the ICC reportedly informed the BCB that Bangladesh’s senior men’s team must travel to India to play their scheduled matches or risk forfeiting valuable points in the tournament.
No official statement has yet been issued by either the ICC or the BCB regarding the outcome of the meeting. The virtual call followed a formal request submitted by the BCB on Sunday, seeking the relocation of Bangladesh’s matches due to concerns about “safety and security.”
Bangladesh is scheduled to begin its T20 World Cup 2026 campaign on February 7 against two-time champions West Indies at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The team will then face Italy and England at the same venue before travelling to Mumbai to play Nepal at the Wankhede Stadium. The tournament itself will begin with a match between Pakistan and the Netherlands in Colombo.
Earlier, the BCB had announced that it would not send its team to India under the current circumstances, citing advice from the Bangladesh government and growing security concerns for its players and staff. The issue escalated following the removal of Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders’ IPL 2026 squad, reportedly after a directive from the BCCI.
The move came amid political tensions and backlash in India linked to recent developments in Bangladesh. The situation has added a diplomatic and administrative dimension to preparations for the India–Sri Lanka co-hosted T20 World Cup.
The matter is now being closely watched as the ICC maintains its stance on tournament scheduling, while the BCB faces mounting pressure over Bangladesh’s participation in matches scheduled to be held in India.
