T20 World Cup Hosting in Doubt? BCB Pressures ICC to Move Event from India

The international cricket calendar is entering its busiest phase, where teams are preparing for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. With the global tournament drawing near, cricket boards have actively started testing players, evaluating their form, fitness, and finalizing squad combinations. Some of the best cricket teams in the world are also managing their players, ensuring proper rest and workload management for their key players, before the tournament begins with excitement and enthusiasm.

While on-field preparations continue, recent off-field developments have created uncertainty around the tournament hosting plans. As per the original scheduling rights, India is set to host the tournament along with Sri Lanka. However, the recent incidents have raised questions over the T20 World Cup hosting plans. Bangladesh Cricket Board is reportedly set to approach the ICC with concerns following issues surrounding Mustafizur Rahman’s release from the IPL.

Bangladesh is scheduled to play multiple group stage matches in India, including fixtures in Kolkata and Mumbai, but has expressed concerns related to player safety. These concerns have started discussions about relocating Bangladesh matches to Sri Lanka.

BCB Requests ICC to Move Bangladesh’s World Cup Matches

The Bangladesh Cricket Board is preparing to formally write to the International Cricket Council, seeking clarity and possible intervention regarding Bangladesh's participation in the T20 World Cup 2026 matches scheduled in India. The BCB move is followed by the release of Mustafizur Rahman from KKR’s IPL squad on the instructions of the BCCI, citing the unrest and recent developments in Bangladesh.

According to multiple reports, BCB held an emergency virtual meeting, where officials agreed that concerns over player safety needed to be formally communicated. The board believes that if contracted players cannot be assured participation in India, it raises questions about the safety and security of the national team during a global event. Government Advisor Asif Nazrul wrote on his official Facebook page,

Bangladesh T20 World Cup Matches

As per the current schedule of the T20 World Cup 2026, Bangladesh is placed in Group C and is set to play three group stage matches at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, against the West Indies, Italy, and England. Their final group match is scheduled to be played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai against Nepal. These fixtures are a key part of the T20 World Cup hosting plan across Indian venues.

However, if the ICC accepts the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s plea, all of Bangladesh’s group stage matches could be shifted to Sri Lanka, the co-host nation. For now, the T20 World Cup hosting structure remains unchanged, with India and Sri Lanka jointly staging the tournament.