ICC refuses BCB request, keeps Bangladesh matches in India for T20 World Cup

Published : Wednesday, 21 January, 2026 at 8:31 PM Count : 165

International Cricket Council (ICC) has ruled that Bangladesh’s matches at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will be played in India as originally scheduled, rejecting a late request from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to shift its fixtures to Sri Lanka.

The decision was taken at an ICC Board meeting held via video conference, called to address the impasse that emerged after the BCB formally sought a change of venue for Bangladesh’s matches, citing concerns outside the tournament’s established security framework.

In a media release on Wednesday, the ICC said its ruling followed extensive security evaluations, including independent assessments, which found no credible threat to the safety of Bangladesh players, team officials, media personnel or supporters at any of the Indian venues hosting the tournament.

“The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will proceed as scheduled with Bangladesh’s matches to be played in India,” the ICC said.

The governing body also noted that altering the schedule at such a late stage was not feasible and could undermine the integrity of future global events.

“The ICC Board noted that it was not feasible to make changes so close to the tournament and that altering the schedule under the circumstances, in the absence of any credible security threat, could set a precedent that would jeopardise the sanctity of future ICC events and undermine its neutrality as a global governing body,” the statement said.

According to the ICC, the organisation had been in “sustained and constructive dialogue” with the BCB over several weeks in an effort to resolve the situation and ensure Bangladesh’s participation in the tournament.

ICC management shared detailed security planning with the BCB, including layered arrangements involving both federal and state law-enforcement agencies in India, as well as independent security assessments and formal assurances from host authorities.

However, the ICC said the BCB continued to link its participation in the World Cup to a separate issue involving Mustafizur Rahman involvement in Indian Premier League (IPL) — a matter the ICC described as isolated and unrelated to the tournament’s security framework.

“Despite these efforts, the BCB maintained its position, repeatedly linking its participation in the tournament to a single, isolated and unrelated development,” an ICC spokesperson said. “This linkage has no bearing on the tournament’s security framework or the conditions governing participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.”

ICC emphasised that its venue and scheduling decisions are governed by objective security assessments, host guarantees and the agreed terms of participation that apply equally to all 20 teams competing in the tournament.

“In the absence of any independent security findings that materially compromise the safety of the Bangladesh team, the ICC is unable to relocate fixtures,” the spokesperson said.

The ICC also warned that moving Bangladesh’s matches would create significant logistical and scheduling complications for other teams and fans worldwide, while also opening the door to precedent-related challenges in future events.

“Doing so would carry significant logistical and scheduling consequences for other teams and fans worldwide, and would also create far-reaching precedent-related challenges that risk undermining the neutrality, fairness, and integrity of ICC governance,” the spokesperson added.

The world body said it remained committed to acting in good faith and applying consistent standards across all participating nations.

“The ICC remains committed to acting in good faith, upholding consistent standards, and safeguarding the collective interests of the global game,” the spokesperson said.

FP/MI