ICC Denies Bangladesh’s Request to Shift T20 World Cup Matches from India

The 2026 ICC T20 World Cup is already causing drama before it even starts. On January 13, 2026, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had a video call with the International Cricket Council (ICC) asking for Bangladesh’s group matches to be moved from India to Sri Lanka, because they’re worried about security. The tournament is less than a month away, and this request has caused problems not just between the BCB and the ICC, but also for India, who is helping to host the event.

So, here’s the deal: Bangladesh wants to change the location.

Bangladesh says they’re worried about security because of political issues with India. The BCB wants the ICC to move their group matches to Sri Lanka, where they think the players will be safer. During the video call, BCB President Md Aminul Islam, Vice Presidents Md Shakawath Hossain and Faruque Ahmed, Director and Chairman of the Cricket Operations Committee Nazmul Abedeen, and Chief Executive Officer Nizam Uddin Chowdhury all said that the Board cares most about keeping players, staff, and officials safe.

During the talk, the BCB said again that they don’t want to go to India because of security worries. The Board also asked the ICC again to think about moving Bangladesh’s matches out of India.

ICC’s Answer

The ICC wasn’t happy. They said that the schedule is already out and told the BCB to think again. ICC sources say that the schedule can’t be changed this late without messing up the whole tournament. The ICC said that Bangladesh has to play in India or they might have to give up their matches.

Even though the ICC is pushing back, the BCB isn’t budging. The ICC said that the tournament schedule is already out and asked the BCB to rethink their position, but the Board hasn’t changed its mind. Both sides agreed to keep talking to find some answers, the BCB said in a statement.

Bangladesh’s View

The BCB is in a tough spot. Political issues between India and Bangladesh are getting worse, especially after some recent problems. Because of this, they’re seriously worried about security and say that they can’t risk their players’ safety. Vice-president Shakhawat Hossain said, We’ve made our position clear, and they’re looking for other ways to deal with it. We can still talk about it. He also said, We’re sticking to our decision about moving the venue. We won’t change our minds at all. We’re not going to India.

Sports advisor Asif Nazrul agrees that Bangladesh isn’t ready to go to India for the tournament, which shows that the Board is being careful. Some of the country’s best cricketers, like T20 veterans, are worried about their safety because of growing public unrest and tricky political issues in India.

India’s Side and the IPL Mess

India, who is helping to host the T20 World Cup, will have big problems if Bangladesh refuses to play. The ongoing political tension between India and Bangladesh has also impacted the Indian Premier League (IPL). Recently, Kolkata Knight Riders, who are directed by the BCCI, let Mustafizur Rahman go from their team because of political sensitivities. This caused a lot of complaints and trouble.

The IPL issue is tied to the bigger T20 World Cup problem. Bangladesh players are already being watched closely because of India-Bangladesh tensions. They don’t want to play in Indian stadiums where fans and politics could make things dangerous. Besides safety, this decision affects how the tournament runs, sponsorships, and whether people will watch. Some Indian sponsors, like SG and Sareen Sports, have reportedly stopped renewing contracts for Bangladesh players. Litton Das, the captain of Bangladesh, has been affected by these sponsorship choices.

BCB’s Letter to the ICC

The BCB wrote to the ICC to explain their concerns, asking for Bangladesh’s matches to be moved to Sri Lanka. The letter talked about security worries, the safety of players, and the ongoing political problems between the two countries. It said that the BCB won’t compromise on these things, but they’re willing to work with the ICC to find other answers.

But the ICC hasn’t said yes yet. The BCB says that the ICC has asked them to think again, but the Board hasn’t changed its mind. Right now, nothing has been officially approved or canceled, and they’re still talking about it.

What Could Happen and What It Means

So, there are three possible routes for Bangladesh: move their games to Sri Lanka, don’t play at all, or play in India even with security worries. Each choice has big results for Bangladesh, India, and what the whole tournament is worth.

If Bangladesh plays somewhere else, like Sri Lanka, India won’t have those key group matches at home. That would hurt their ticket sales, TV deals, and how much money they make. Also, Pakistan might have to move their matches to Sri Lanka too, to be neutral, which means even fewer big games in India. The costs and planning problems for India would be pretty bad.

If Bangladesh just says no, it could cheapen the World Cup. They’re a good team with lots of fans. If they’re not there, the tournament isn’t as tough or as interesting to watch. That could mess with sponsorship deals, make TV ratings go down, and just make the whole thing feel less important.

The last idea, letting Bangladesh play in India, might solve some money and planning stuff, but it’s a huge security risk. Recent fights between groups and bad feelings between India and Bangladesh have made things even more dangerous. The whole thing with kicking Bangladeshi players out of the IPL makes it worse because now players are scared to go to India, even for international games.

What Players Think and How it Hurts Bangladesh

The players in Bangladesh are annoyed that they’re stuck between politics and cricket. Their captain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, said, “We haven’t got a good result in any World Cup. We had a good opportunity last time [at ‍the 2024 T20 World Cup], but we couldn’t do it.”

He talked about how these off-the-field problems affect them. “Before every World Cup, something always happens. I’ve played with a couple, and it messes with us. We pretend it doesn’t, because we’re supposed to be professionals, but it does. It’s not easy. It would be better if these things didn’t happen. But the players still try to forget about it and play well.”

All that stress is hard on them. With the T20 World Cup coming up, Bangladesh is already behind because of political problems, delayed money, and worries about keeping the players safe.

Politics and What’s Happened Before

This isn’t just about where to play cricket; it’s tied to political and social issues. Recent events, like violence in Bangladesh and protests in India, have made people trust each other less. The way Hindus and Muslims get along and how the media talks about it makes things even harder. Letting Mustafizur Rahman go from the IPL showed how political problems can change who plays and how you plan a tournament.

In short

The ICC said no to Bangladesh’s request to move T20 World Cup matches, and that means a tricky situation for everyone. Bangladesh is sticking to its guns, saying security and the players come first. India could lose money and have planning headaches if Bangladesh plays somewhere else or doesn’t play at all. The ICC needs to find a middle ground between making sure the tournament is good and keeping the teams safe and happy.

As the tournament gets closer, everyone will be watching to see what happens. Whether Bangladesh plays in India, moves its games to Sri Lanka, or has to drop out, this whole mess shows how tough it is to run a big sports event when there are political problems. The T20 World Cup 2026 will be about cricket, but it will also be a test of how well people can work together, keep players safe, and cooperate internationally.