The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has officially declared it will not send its team to India for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, triggered by the forced release of pacer Mustafizur Rahman from Kolkata
Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL.
Following BCCI's directive on Saturday, Bangladesh's sports ministry ordered BCB to petition the ICC for venue changes. In an email sent to the ICC, the BCB stated, "Due to security concerns, it is not possible to send the team to India for the T20 World Cup. For this reason, the BCB has requested a change of venue. "
Government advisor Asif Nazrul emphasized player safety, noting that if a contracted Bangladeshi cricketer cannot play in India, the entire squad faces risks.
"Bangladesh will not go to India to play in the World Cup. The Bangladesh Cricket Board has taken this decision today. We welcome this decision taken in the context of the violent communal policy of the Cricket Board of India," he wrote on social media.
Nazrul, who has been making comments across the past day or so, also demanded a ban on IPL broadcast in the country.
BCCI deemed the venue shifts as "logistically impossible," while 17 BCB directors unanimously resolved against Indian soil matches after Sunday's meeting. ICC remains silent as tensions mirror past neutral venue precedents. Pakistan have already their matches scheduled in Sri Lanka amid the ongoing issue between them and India.
All Eyes on ICC
The focus now shifts to ICC, as the apex body of world cricket will have to come up with a decision. As Bangladesh have decided to skip India, the only option is to shift their matches to Sri Lanka, which will be a logistical disaster. But if ICC declines their demand and the Tigers uphold their decision of not coming to India, they may have to forfeit their matches.
