ICC T20 World Cup 2026: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rejected a request by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to relocate its matches from India to Sri Lanka in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026. Team Bangladesh has now remarked that nothing is greater than respect and national dignity.
Bangladesh requested for a venue change after the Indian government asked the Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to drop Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman. This was after many Hindus living in Bangladesh were stabbed, mobbed, burned, raped and set ablaze. Mustafizur is now all set to play in the Pakistan Super League 2026 that adds another interesting layer to an already tense standoff.
During an online meeting, the ICC informed the BCB that there was no assessment that indicates that the Bangladesh cricket team is facing any specific or credible threat if they play in India.
Bangladesh Matches in India at ICC T20 World Cup 2026
Bangladesh is set to play three matches of Group C in Kolkata – the first one on February 7 against West Indies, February 9 against Italy and February 14 against England before it faces Nepal on February in Mumbai. The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 starts on February 7 and ends on March 8.
The ICC remarked the BCB has a choice to either play in India or risk forfeiting its match points.
The interim government of Bangladesh had directed the BCB to approach the ICC for relocating its matches. The country’s Youth and Sports Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul had condemned the removal of Mustafizur from IPL 2026. Bangladesh later instructed broadcasters not to telecast any of IPL 2026 matches in the country. Nazrul remarked the country would not tolerate any insult to Bangladesh’s cricketers, cricket or the country itself as the days of subservience are over.
