NEW DELHI — Bangladesh’s bold bid to shift its T20 World Cup 2026 matches out of India has been firmly rejected by the International Cricket Council (ICC), setting the stage for one of the biggest pre-tournament controversies ahead of the February 7 start.
In a decision confirmed on Wednesday, the ICC upheld the original World Cup schedule, insisting that Bangladesh must play its group matches in India — or risk being left out of the tournament entirely.
“All independent security assessments… indicated there was no credible threat to Bangladesh players, officials or fans at any tournament venue in India,” the ICC said in a statement after reviewing the proposal.
Bangladesh had asked for its fixtures — three scheduled in Kolkata and another in Mumbai — to be relocated to Sri Lanka, the co-host of the tournament, citing safety and other concerns.
The request followed deteriorating diplomatic tensions and a separate controversy involving Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman, whose exclusion from the IPL 2026 squad drew political heat back home.
An ICC spokesperson stressed that logistical challenges and fairness to all teams prevented any late changes to the schedule:
“Relocating fixtures now would carry significant logistical and scheduling consequences… and could set a worrying precedent for future ICC events.”
With no change on the table, the ICC has now given the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) a 24-hour window to either confirm that the team will travel to India as planned, or accept the consequences. If they refuse, reports suggest Scotland may be invited to take their place in the competition.
The drama has added a political edge to the global event — and fans and pundits alike will be watching closely to see whether Bangladesh ultimately plays in the World Cup or makes history by withdrawing before a ball is bowled.
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