Lagatar24 Desk
Dhaka: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rejected the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) request to move Bangladesh’s matches of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 from India to Sri Lanka, directing the team to play its scheduled fixtures in India or risk losing points.
ICC Turns Down Security-Based Appeal
According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, a virtual meeting was held between ICC and BCB on Tuesday, during which the Bangladesh board raised concerns over player safety in India and sought relocation of matches. The ICC, however, made it clear that Bangladesh’s senior men’s national team must travel to India to participate in the tournament, rejecting any venue change.
Points At Stake If Team Skips Matches
The ICC reportedly warned that if Bangladesh fails to play its matches in India, the team will forfeit points. While neither ICC nor BCB has issued an official statement so far, the decision has effectively closed the door on any venue shift for Bangladesh’s World Cup fixtures.
T20 World Cup To Begin In India On February 7
The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 is scheduled to begin on February 7, with Bangladesh facing West Indies at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The team will then play Italy on February 9 and England on February 14 at the same venue, followed by a match against Nepal on February 17 at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
Mustafizur Rahman Row Linked To Venue Demand
The controversy gained momentum after Kolkata Knight Riders released Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman following protests linked to reports of minority violence in Bangladesh. Soon after, BCB intensified its demand to move World Cup matches out of India, a request that has now been firmly denied by the ICC.
