Dhaka, Jan 4 (.) The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Sunday formally requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to relocate all of Bangladesh’s matches in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, citing serious safety and security concerns for the national team in India.
An emergency meeting of the BCB Board of Directors was held on Sunday afternoon to review the evolving situation surrounding the tournament, which is scheduled to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka later this year. The Board expressed “deep concern” over the participation of the Bangladesh contingent in matches slated to be played on Indian soil.
Following a thorough assessment of the prevailing situation and after considering advice from the Bangladesh Government, the Board resolved that the national team would not travel to India under the current conditions. The BCB emphasised that the decision was made in the interest of safeguarding the well-being of the players, team officials, Board members, and other stakeholders associated with the tournament.
This development comes a day after Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) released Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their Indian Premier League (IPL) squad, raising further concerns about the security and participation of Bangladeshi cricketers in India.
In its formal request to the ICC, the Board sought relocation of all Bangladesh matches to venues outside India, stating that this would ensure the team’s participation in a secure and appropriate environment. The Board said it hoped for a swift response from the ICC, highlighting the urgency of the situation as preparations for the T20 World Cup intensify.
The BCB did not elaborate on the specific developments that led to the security concerns but stressed that the decision was taken after “careful consideration of all factors” and with the safety of the national team as the paramount priority.
The Board said it remained committed to full participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and hoped that the ICC would accommodate its request in order to protect the interests of Bangladesh cricket.
. . .