BCB Requests ICC Move T20 World Cup Matches to Sri Lanka Amid Rising India Tensions

DHAKA, BANGLADESH — The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has decided to formally request the International Cricket Council (ICC) to move its matches in the upcoming 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup from India to Sri Lanka due to safety concerns and heightened political tensions. The request is a direct result of the controversial release of player Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL).

In response to political tensions, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) directed the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman. Following this move, Asif Nazrul, Bangladesh’s youth and sports adviser instructed the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to formally contact the International Cricket Council (ICC) to express concerns regarding player safety. The BCB argues that if a player’s security cannot be guaranteed during a domestic league, the national team’s safety during a World Cup remains in question.

To address these concerns, the BCB held an emergency meeting and decided to seek clarification on security arrangements from the ICC, the IPL governing council and the BCCI. During these discussions, the BCB formally requested a change of venue for their scheduled matches in India, citing the precedent set when the ICC allowed India to play Champions Trophy matches in the UAE due to strained relations with Pakistan. 

However, a BCCI source has since dismissed the request, describing the potential shift as a “logistical nightmare” and maintaining that significant schedule changes cannot be implemented on such short notice.

Bangladesh’s Scheduled Matches

The 2026 T20 World Cup tournament is already operating under a split format; Pakistan’s matches have already been moved to Sri Lanka due to diplomatic problems with India. Bangladesh is now seeking the same “neutral venue” status for their Group C matches, currently scheduled for Kolkata and Mumbai.