Bangladesh cricket is now standing at a serious crossroads just weeks before the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, starting on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka, with the situation getting more intense with every passing day. The drama surrounds the intensified relation between India and Bangladesh.
Bangladesh vs ICC: T20 World Cup 2026 venues turn into a political drama
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has now taken its fight with the International Cricket Council (ICC) to the next level. The BCB sent a second official letter to the ICC, where they have once again demanded that Bangladesh’s ICC T20 World Cup 2026 matches be shifted out of India.
The Bangladesh board wants their matches to be moved to Sri Lanka due to security fears. They have made this request after the BCCI forced the KKR to remove Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad after several political leaders demanded the same.
The heart of the matter
There was massive backlash for KKR’s signing because of Hindu minorities’ ongoing situation in Bangladesh, and the relationship only turned sour after a Hindu man was killed there. After Rahman’s removal, the Bangladesh government announced a ban on IPL’s telecast in the country indefinitely, and later, BCB decided not to play its matches in India due to security concerns.
Bangladesh is scheduled to play four group-stage matches in India. Three of those matches are planned in Kolkata, while one is set to take place in Mumbai. Despite the tournament being so close, the BCB is not ready to play its ICC T20 World Cup 2026 matches in India.
BCB intensifies fight with ICC
Now, they have sent a fresh letter after high-level discussions between the BCB and sports ministry advisor Asif Nazrul. Nazrul has taken a firm and direct stand on the issue and has made it clear that the board will not back down easily. The ICC asked Bangladesh to clearly explain what security risks it is worried about, and the BCB responded by laying out its concerns in detail.
However, the board has not revealed those concerns publicly, keeping the exact reasons confidential. At the moment, the ICC has not made any public announcement on the issue, but it has continued to seek clarity from the Bangladesh board over the matter.
A BCB source close to the board told PTI, “The ICC wanted to know the areas of concern regarding security, and the BCB has cited them in detail.”
BCB split over tough stand as ICC T20 World Cup 2026 uncertainty continues
Inside the BCB, opinions are divided. Some members fully support Nazrul’s strict approach, as they believe players’ safety must come first at any cost. However, some officials feel the board should keep talking to the ICC and Indian authorities, believing that strong and guaranteed security arrangements could solve the problem.
Presently, there is no sign that the ICC is ready to shift Bangladesh’s matches from Kolkata and Mumbai to Colombo. Still, the Bangladesh Cricket Board has insisted that the global body has shown some openness to reviewing the security issues raised.
