The International Cricket Council (ICC) has mandated Bangladesh to play its group-stage matches in India for the 2026 T20 World Cup, rejecting the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) request to shift them to Sri Lanka.
Bangladesh competes in Group C alongside England, Italy, Nepal, and West Indies, with three fixtures set at Eden Gardens in Kolkata and one at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai between February 7 and 17.
This decision locks in the schedule for the India-Sri Lanka co-hosted event running from February 7 to March 8, ensuring all teams follow host agreements.
Tensions arose after Kolkata Knight Riders dropped Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from its IPL 2026 squad on BCCI orders, following protests from Indian political figures.
Bangladesh’s interim government sports advisor Asif Nazrul instructed the BCB to formally ask the ICC for venue changes, arguing players “won’t feel safe” in India due to bilateral strains and the Mustafizur incident. The BCB sent the letter citing security risks, but ICC officials scheduled a meeting to confirm no alterations occurred.
BCCI officials are promising visas for Bangladesh’s players and coaching staff, as well as elaborate security measures similar to those for Pakistan in the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Entry remains unlikely for Bangladeshi fans and journalists, putting focus solely on-field participation.
Matches include West Indies on February 7 in Kolkata, Italy on February 9 there, England on February 14, and Nepal on February 17 in Mumbai.
Bangladesh plans to rely on talents like Mustafizur Rahman and Litton Das for a strong showing, placing them as contenders in the group.
In usual fashion, India-Pakistan encounters would take place outside the country, this time in Sri Lanka under a hybrid arrangement, but Bangladesh’s games stay put.
Refusal carries risks of fines or disqualification, as the ICC prioritises logistics and global broadcasts. For now, there is no statement from the BCCI or the BCB, it seems the ICC have the final say in this case, and things would proceed as planned.
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