The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has made it unequivocally clear to the International Cricket Council (ICC) that it’s going to not send its men’s team to India for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, a tournament co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka starting in February 2026. In a high-level meeting held with ICC officials, the BCB reiterated its objection to travelling to India, repeatedly citing concerns concerning the safety and security of its players, support staff, fans, and wider delegation if matches are hosted on Indian soil.
In accordance with the official press release from the BCB, the board “reaffirmed its position regarding the choice to not travel to India, citing security concerns,” pointing to recent developments in cricketing relations between the 2 neighbouring countries as key aspects. While the ICC has conducted several rounds of discussions, there was no indication that Bangladesh is ready to reverse its stance.
This insistence comes amid wider tension following the removal of Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL) squad for 2026 — a choice taken by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) franchise reportedly under instruction from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). That incident has intensified the dispute and appears to have contributed to Bangladesh’s heightened apprehensions about participating in matches on Indian soil.
A Creative Proposal to ICC: Group Swap and Sri Lanka Fixtures
In an effort to seek out a diplomatic path forward that may allow Bangladesh to still take part in the marquee event without compromising its safety concerns, the BCB has tabled a surprising logistical solution. It formally proposed that the ICC relocate all of Bangladesh’s World Cup matches to Sri Lanka by swapping Bangladesh’s group with Australia’s.
This may enable the Bangladesh team to play entirely in Sri Lanka — a co-host nation — thereby eliminating the necessity to travel to India. Under the offer, Bangladesh would move into Group C (currently Australia’s group), which is scheduled for Sri Lanka venues, while Australia would take Bangladesh’s place in Group B, where games are slated for cities in India. The BCB argues this is able to require “minimum logistical adjustments” while preserving Bangladesh’s participation.
Negotiations Proceed Amid Ongoing Debate
Representatives from each the BCB and ICC described the meetings as “constructive, cordial and skilled,” with open discussion on the relevant issues. While ICC delegates engaged fully in dialogue, the board has held its ground firmly on relocating the fixtures. Either side have agreed to keep up ongoing communication to seek out a workable resolution before the tournament schedule is finalized.
The ICC is predicted to review the proposal and issue a choice in the approaching days, because the cricketing world watches closely how this geopolitical and sporting standoff will ultimately unfold.
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