Bangladesh Follows Pakistan, Wants T20 World Cup Games Moved From India
In a surprising turn of events ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is considering a formal request to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to relocate its group-stage matches from India to Sri Lanka due to growing concerns over player safety and recent controversies involving Bangladeshi cricketers.
1/4/20262 min read
Background: What Sparked the Request?
The move comes after a major controversy involving Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman, who was released by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) on instructions reportedly tied to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Bangladesh government advisor Dr. Asif Nazrul expressed serious concerns that if a contracted Bangladeshi player is not allowed to play in India, the national team might not feel secure participating there for the World Cup. He instructed the BCB to formally communicate these apprehensions to the ICC and request that Bangladesh’s matches be played in Sri Lanka instead.
📄 What the BCB Plans to Request From ICC
According to reports:
BCB will write a formal representation to the ICC outlining safety and fair-treatment concerns.
The BCB may argue that if Mustafizur cannot play in India despite a valid contract, then the full national team’s participation on Indian soil could be unsafe.
Sri Lanka has been proposed as an alternative venue for Bangladesh’s group matches.
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⚠️ Why Bangladesh Wants the Shift
The concerns stem from:
Mustafizur Rahman’s IPL release under controversial circumstances
Political tensions and safety perceptions
Broader questions about whether Bangladeshi players would feel secure playing in India
Dr. Asif Nazrul publicly stated that Bangladesh “will not accept any insult to Bangladeshi cricket, cricketers and Bangladesh under any circumstances,” and hinted that other steps — such as stopping IPL broadcasts in Bangladesh — may also be considered.
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🚫 How India and BCCI Responded
The BCCI has reacted strongly to reports of the BCB’s proposed venue change, calling the idea logistically very difficult or “a nightmare” to implement with only weeks left before the tournament begins. Organizing travel, accommodations, broadcast crews, opposition logistics, and matchday operations across two countries has already been mapped out, and altering that plan would be highly complex.
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🏆 What This Means for the T20 World Cup
If the relocation request were somehow approved (which remains uncertain):
Bangladesh might play its Group Stage matches in Sri Lanka instead of India.
This would affect Bangladesh’s scheduled group fixtures in cities like Kolkata and Mumbai.
However, current indications suggest that ICC and the host nations are unlikely to change the schedule at this late stage, though the issue is still in discussion.