The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reportedly turned down the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) request to relocate their T20 World Cup 2026 matches out of India due to security concerns.
According to reports, during a virtual meeting on Tuesday, ICC officials informed BCB that the team would be required to play its scheduled fixtures in India. The outlet further claimed the ICC indicated that Bangladesh could risk forfeiting points if they refused to travel.
However, the BCB has pushed back on that specific detail, stating that it did not receive any ultimatum about potential point deductions during the call.
The meeting was arranged after the BCB wrote to the ICC on Sunday, asking the council to “consider” shifting Bangladesh’s World Cup matches to a neutral venue outside India. So far, neither the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) nor the BCB has issued a formal statement summarizing the outcome of the discussions.
With less than a month remaining before the 20‑team tournament begins, the ICC’s stance means Bangladesh’s fixtures remain unchanged.
The T20 World Cup, to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from 7 February to 8 March, has Bangladesh placed in Group C. Their current schedule is:
| Fixture | Date | Venue |
| Bangladesh vs West Indies | February 7, 2026 | Kolkata |
| Bangladesh vs Italy | February 9, 2026 | Kolkata |
| Bangladesh vs England | February 14, 2026 | Kolkata |
| Bangladesh vs Nepal | February 17, 2026 | Mumbai |
Unless there is a late reversal, Bangladesh will have to travel to both Kolkata and Mumbai for the group stage.
The venue dispute surfaced soon after controversy around Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The BCB approached the ICC after reports that the BCCI had instructed Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Mustafizur from their squad. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed to the media that such a directive had been issued, though no detailed explanation was provided.
Mustafizur was Bangladesh’s only player picked in the 2026 IPL auction, and the IPL Governing Council did not meet to formally review his case, raising questions about who, beyond Saikia, signed off on the decision.
For now, despite these tensions, the ICC’s reported decision means Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign is still officially locked into its original Indian venues, even as the BCB maintains that discussions with the global body are ongoing and without formal ultimatums.
Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh should join together India playing the role of bully as usual here. This attitude reflects and matches the typical attitude of the Indian movies protagonists, often depicted as village Thakurs or the dhoti clad Bombay hooligans (goonda) who prey on the poor slum folks with huge machetes and who are always quick to flop before the any powerful looking adversary. Bangladesh should stand it’s ground and will see the Instant change in Indian behavior because it’s the Nation of wicked cowards. They are scared of Pakistan for the same reason.