The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has finally responded to Bangladesh’s request to not play its T20 World Cup matches in India, making it clear that the matter does not fall under its jurisdiction and that the final decision rests with the International Cricket Council (ICC). Bangladesh has reportedly urged the ICC to relocate its fixtures to Sri Lanka amid growing diplomatic and security concerns.
Relations between India and Bangladesh have been under strain in recent days following reports of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. The situation intensified after the BCCI asked IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from their squad in light of the prevailing circumstances. Rahman had been bought by KKR for INR 9.20 crore at the IPL auction in Abu Dhabi.
KKR faced significant backlash for retaining the Bangladesh pacer despite the tense atmosphere, prompting the BCCI to intervene. Following Rahman’s release, the Bangladesh government and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) approached the ICC, formally requesting that Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup matches be moved out of India, citing security concerns.
While the ICC and BCB have been in continuous communication over the issue, no final decision has been taken so far. With the tournament scheduled to begin on February 7, time is running out for a resolution.
Reacting to the developments, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia stated that the Indian board has little to comment on the issue, as it falls outside its authority.
“The meeting was about the CoE and other cricketing matters. It’s not our domain to talk about that, as the ICC has the final say on Bangladesh’s participation in the T20 World Cup,” Saikia told news agency PTI.
Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup schedule
The T20 World Cup 2026 will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, with matches scheduled across eight venues from February 7 to March 8. Bangladesh have been drawn in Group C alongside England, West Indies, Nepal and Italy.
According to the current schedule, Bangladesh’s matches against West Indies (three games), England and Italy are set to be played at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, while their fixture against Nepal is slated for the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Earlier this week, the BCB issued a statement saying that the ICC, under the leadership of chairman Jay Shah, has assured them of full cooperation and support.
“In its communication, the ICC has reiterated its commitment to ensuring the full and uninterrupted participation of the Bangladesh team in the tournament. The ICC has conveyed its willingness to work closely with the BCB to address the concerns raised and has assured that the Board’s inputs will be welcomed and duly considered as part of the detailed security planning for the event,” the BCB said in an official release.
