Bangladesh has officially refused to travel to India for the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said the decision was driven by growing security worries amid deteriorating political relations between the two countries.
The situation intensified after the BCCI reportedly instructed Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman.
Bangladesh was scheduled to play in Kolkata and Mumbai, starting with their opening match against West Indies at Eden Gardens on February 7.
With only a month left before the event, the BCB’s withdrawal has forced the ICC to reconsider key fixtures.
In an official statement, the BCB said it took the decision after a full assessment of the “prevailing situation” and on the advice of the Bangladesh government.
“The Board of Directors resolved that the Bangladesh National Team will not travel to India for the tournament under the current conditions,” it said.
The board has formally asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) to relocate all of Bangladesh’s matches to a venue outside India.
The request was submitted shortly after Bangladesh’s sports adviser Asif Nazrul publicly supported the move. He said the decision was taken “in the context of the radical communal policies of the Indian cricket board.”
ESPNcricinfo reported that the BCB held two lengthy virtual meetings over the past 24 hours. The first meeting on Saturday did not reach a conclusion. However, the board reconvened at 1 pm on Sunday with 17 directors and unanimously decided to inform the ICC of its stance.
A senior BCB official said the decision stemmed from the BCCI’s inability to guarantee safety for Mustafizur Rahman. “India said they are unable to provide security for one player, so how can they give security for the whole team?” the official said. He added that the board also considered the safety of fans and journalists who would travel for the event. “We can’t play in India. We can play in Sri Lanka,” he said.
Moving Bangladesh’s matches outside India may create further complications. The 2026 T20 World Cup is jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, and unlike the 2025 Champions Trophy, it does not follow a hybrid model. It remains unclear whether the ICC will accept the relocation request.
Meanwhile, the BCB has also written separately to the BCCI seeking an explanation for Mustafizur’s removal from the KKR squad. The letter notes that the BCCI had earlier asked Bangladesh to ensure his availability for the IPL auction. However, this letter does not address the broader security concerns, which the BCB has communicated exclusively to the ICC.
