The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) remains adamant on not travelling to India to participate in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. In the latest development, BCB has formally approached the International Cricket Council (ICC) with a request to change its group for the tournament to avoid having its matches played in India. This was revealed by BCB in a press release today, saying that the request was discussed in a meeting with the ICC.
Bangladesh is currently placed in Group C, alongside teams such as England, West Indies, Italy, and Nepal. All of Bangladesh’s group-stage matches in this group are scheduled to take place in India. BCB has requested that they should be placed in Groub B, and Australia should be moved from Group B to Group C. The matches for Group B, featuring Sri Lanka, Australia, Oman, Ireland, and Zimbabwe, are set to be held entirely in Sri Lanka.
During the meeting with ICC representatives, including Gaurav Saxena, General Manager of Events and Corporate Communications, who joined virtually due to a visa delay, and Andrew Ephgrave, General Manager of the ICC Integrity Unit, the BCB reiterated its stance against traveling to India. The board cited safety and security concerns for the Bangladesh team, fans, media personnel, and other stakeholders, as advised by the Bangladesh government.
The discussions were described by the BCB as “constructive, cordial, and professional”. However, no final decision was reached during the meeting, and both parties agreed to continue dialogue on the issue. The tournament is set to begin on February 7, 2026, leaving limited time for major schedule adjustments.
This impasse traces back to earlier events, including the release of Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders on BCCI instructions, which escalated bilateral frictions and prompted the BCB’s refusal to play in India. The ICC had shared a security assessment indicating no specific heightened threat to the Bangladesh team in India, but the BCB has stood firm on its concerns.
Even if ICC accepts BCB’s request, the Bangladesh cricket team will avoid travelling to India for group matches only. If the team qualifies for the Super 8 stage and then the knockout stage, they may have to play their games in India, and it won’t be possible to shift those matches. The second semi-final is also scheduled to be played in Mumbai, while the venues for the first semi-final and the final have not finalised yet.
