Bangladesh Refuses To Play T20 World Cup Matches in India

Bangladesh will not participate in the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup, as BCB (Bangladesh Cricket Board) is concerned about players' safety due to the current political tension with India.

The decision came after BCCI, India’s cricket board, strictly instructed KKR to remove Mustafizur Rahman.

Bangladesh's T20 World Cup matches were supposed to take place in Kolkata and Mumbai, with the first match against the West Indies at Eden Gardens on February 7.

With only one month left for the beginning of the tournament, this decision has affected the schedule.

BCB Asks ICC to Move Bangladesh Matches Out of India

According to the BCB statement, it decided after observing the grave situation, showing concern for its cricket team in India.

After talks with the Bangladesh Government, the board decided the national team would not visit India.

The members of the board requested ICC (International Cricket Council) to hold Bangladesh’s matches outside India.

Bangladesh’s Sports Adviser Backs the Decision on Social Media

Hours before the BCB’s declaration, Asif Nazrul, Bangladesh’s sports adviser, backed its decision on Facebook.

He wrote, "The BCB has decided not to send the Bangladesh team to India for the World Cup,". We welcome this decision, considering the communal policies of the Indian cricket board."

The BCB took this decision after two video meetings in the last 24 hours.

When the first meeting ended without the final decision, it arranged another meeting on Sunday afternoon, presided over by 17 directors.

It was then that they discussed with ICC about their concerns and not letting their players travel to India.

BCB: If India can't secure one player, how can they protect the entire team?

A BCB official stated that if India cannot ensure security for one player, how can it assure the security of other players?

It is also not just about the safety of players and staff, but also the fans and reporters arriving in India. Hence, rather than feeling unsafe in India, playing in Sri Lanka would be a safe option.

BCCI Silent on Mustafizur Security Claim as BCB seeks Explanation

Regarding the exit of cricket player Mustafizur from KKR (Kolkata Knight Riders), the BCCI hasn’t related this to a security issue.

It led to confusion as the BCCI had asked Bangladesh for his availability for the IPL auction.

BCB even wrote to BCCI asking about the exclusion of Mustafizur after referring him for the auction.

Will ICC allow Bangladesh to skip India? Decision pending on venue shift?

The movement of Bangladesh’s matches may become a crucial issue, as both India and Sri Lanka are co-hosting the upcoming tournament.

In comparison to the 2025 Champions Trophy, this will be a hybrid model, where teams will play in different nations.

It is still unclear whether ICC allow Bangladesh to play outside India. Amidst uncertainty, the cricket officials will decide before the tournament starts.