Bangladesh have stated that they do not want to travel to India to play their matches in the T20 World Cup 2026, after BCCI instructed Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur Rahman owing to the current strained relations between India and Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has written two letters to the ICC regarding shifting their matches from India to Sri Lanka. However, the ICC have repeatedly asked them to withdraw their request. Despite this, they have continued their adamant stand of not going to India for the tournament, citing security issues.
According to a report by India Today, the ICC are likely to send a team in Bangladesh to hold in-person discussions with the BCB regarding their participation in the T20 World Cup 2026. The sports adviser to the Government of Bangladesh, Asif Nazrul said that they would not change their stance of not playing in India.
“According to the latest updates, Mr. Aminul Islam [BCB President Aminul Islam Bulbul] informed me that an ICC team is likely to come to Bangladesh for discussions. There is no chance of us changing our stance. We are eager to play in the World Cup, particularly in Sri Lanka, and I strongly believe that organising this is not impossible,” Nazrul said while speaking to the media at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka.
What Is BCB’s Official Stance?
The BCB confirmed that the ICC has requested the BCB to reconsider their stance of not playing the T20 World Cup in India, but their position remains unchanged.
Here is what the board officially stated:
“While the ICC highlighted that the tournament itinerary has already been announced and requested the BCB to reconsider its stance, the Board’s position remains unchanged. Both parties agreed that discussions will continue to explore possible solutions.”
“The BCB remains committed to safeguarding the well-being of its players, officials and staff while engaging constructively with the ICC to address the matter,” the board added, following a video conference between officials from both sides.”