ICC Rejects Bangladesh Bid to Shift T20 World Cup Matches
- By Thetripurapost Desk, Kolkata
- Jan 07, 2026
- 553
A major controversy has erupted ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup after the International Cricket Council (ICC) rejected a request from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to relocate Bangladesh’s league-stage matches out of India, citing tournament integrity and scheduling commitments. The decision has triggered a diplomatic and sporting standoff, with Bangladesh invoking security concerns, national dignity, and past ICC precedents to justify its demand for neutral venues.
According to Indian media reports, the ICC has conveyed that Bangladesh must play all of its scheduled group matches in India or risk forfeiting points. However, the BCB on Wednesday strongly denied receiving any such ultimatum. In an official statement, the board asserted that the ICC remains open to dialogue and is committed to ensuring Bangladesh’s “full and uninterrupted participation” in the tournament.
The issue intensified following a high-profile press conference in Dhaka, where BCB President Aminul Islam, accompanied by Asif Nazrul, sports advisor to the Bangladeshi government, drew parallels with the India–Pakistan “hybrid model” adopted in recent ICC tournaments. Islam questioned the ICC’s consistency, arguing that if geopolitical sensitivities justified neutral venues for India–Pakistan fixtures, Bangladesh’s concerns deserved similar consideration.
“India did not travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy, and Pakistan did not come to India for the last World Cup,” Islam said. “Player safety is our foremost concern, and we are hopeful that our arguments will be presented convincingly to the ICC.”
Nazrul adopted a more assertive tone, framing the dispute as a matter of national honor. “We will not compromise on Bangladesh’s security, dignity, or self-respect,” he said. “We want to participate in the World Cup, but not at the cost of our players’ safety.”
IPL Fallout at the Heart of the Crisis
The roots of the controversy lie in a chain of events triggered by the Indian Premier League (IPL) mini-auction. On December 16, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) signed Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman for ₹9.20 crore. Soon after, protests erupted in parts of India, linking the signing to reports of violence against Hindu minorities in Bangladesh, where at least six killings have been reported.
In the wake of mounting pressure, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) reportedly denied Mustafizur permission to participate in the IPL. KKR subsequently released the player on January 3, a move that sparked strong reactions in Bangladesh.
In response, Bangladeshi authorities banned IPL broadcasts within the country and formally communicated to the ICC their refusal to play World Cup matches in India, seeking a change of venues.
Tournament Schedule Under Uncertainty
Bangladesh has been placed in Group C of the T20 World Cup, with all its league fixtures currently scheduled on Indian soil. The team is set to face the West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9, and England on February 14 at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens, before taking on Nepal in Mumbai on February 17.
While the ICC has not officially announced any changes to the schedule, the escalating rhetoric has cast a shadow over Bangladesh’s participation, raising concerns about potential forfeitures and a broader crisis in international cricket governance.
A Test of ICC’s Credibility
Beyond the immediate tournament, the dispute poses a significant challenge to the ICC’s authority and consistency. The governing body now finds itself balancing security concerns, political sensitivities, and the need to uphold uniform tournament regulations. How the ICC resolves the Bangladesh impasse may set a precedent for future global events in an increasingly politicized sporting landscape.
For now, uncertainty prevails as cricket’s global administrators brace for a confrontation that threatens to blur the line between sport and statecraft.