The International Cricket Council (ICC) has formally rejected the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) request to move Bangladesh’s matches in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 from India to Sri Lanka due to security concerns.
The decision was made during a virtual ICC Board meeting held on Wednesday, January 21, which was convened specifically to discuss Bangladesh’s request for a venue change.
In an official statement, the ICC confirmed that Bangladesh’s matches will go ahead as originally scheduled in India.
“The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will proceed as scheduled with Bangladesh’s matches to be played in India,” the governing body said.
The ICC stated that it found no credible security threat to Bangladesh players, media personnel, or fans at any of the tournament venues in India. It also emphasized that making changes to the schedule less than a month before the start of the tournament was not feasible.
The ICC also revealed that it held multiple meetings and correspondences with the Bangladesh Cricket Board in an effort to resolve the matter. During these discussions, the ICC shared detailed information on the tournament’s security arrangements, including layered federal and state law-enforcement support.
Bangladesh, who is placed in Group C, are scheduled to play their first three group-stage matches in Kolkata; against West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9, and England on February 14. They will conclude their group stage against Nepal in Mumbai on February 17.
Following the ICC’s decision, the Bangladesh Cricket Board has yet to issue an official response, despite earlier reports suggesting it was set to announce its position on January 21.