The Board of Control for Cricket in India has publicly addressed Bangladesh’s request to move its T20 World Cup 2026 matches out of India, making it clear that the matter does not fall under its authority. The Indian cricket board stated that the final decision rests solely with the International Cricket Council as the global governing body of the sport.
Tensions between India and Bangladesh have intensified in recent weeks following political and social developments in the region. These issues spilled into the cricketing space after the BCCI asked IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from their squad, a move that attracted widespread attention. Rahman had been acquired for a significant fee at the recent IPL auction, but the decision was taken in light of prevailing circumstances.
In response, the Bangladesh government and the Bangladesh Cricket Board formally approached the ICC, requesting that Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup fixtures scheduled in India be shifted to Sri Lanka, citing security concerns. Since then, discussions between the ICC and the BCB have been ongoing, with regular communication exchanged, although no final verdict has been announced. With the tournament set to begin on February 7, time is becoming a crucial factor.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia addressed the issue while speaking to the media, explaining that the Indian board has no direct role in determining venue allocations for participating teams. He clarified that discussions held by the BCCI recently were related to internal cricketing matters and not to the World Cup scheduling dispute. According to Saikia, the ICC alone has the mandate to decide whether Bangladesh’s request will be accepted.
The T20 World Cup 2026 is scheduled to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, with matches spread across eight venues from February 7 to March 8. Bangladesh have been drawn into Group C, alongside England West Indies Nepal and Italy. As per the existing schedule, most of Bangladesh’s group-stage matches are set to be played at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, with one fixture scheduled at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
Earlier, the Bangladesh Cricket Board released a statement confirming that the ICC has acknowledged its concerns and assured cooperation. The ICC reportedly conveyed its commitment to ensuring Bangladesh’s full participation in the tournament and stated that security-related inputs from the BCB would be carefully considered during detailed planning.
As the countdown to the tournament continues, all eyes remain on the ICC’s final decision, which will determine whether the original schedule remains unchanged or if adjustments are made to accommodate Bangladesh’s concerns.
