The International Cricket Council (ICC) is expected to formally respond this week to the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) request to shift Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup fixtures out of India, according to an NDTV report. The T20 World Cup 2026 is scheduled to kick off from February 7.
The BCB had written to the ICC citing “security concerns” and seeking to have Bangladesh’s matches moved to Sri Lanka, a co-host of the tournament. However, the ICC is unlikely to approve a complete relocation and may instead propose alternative venues within India itself, the report stated.
Likely alternate city options
Under the current schedule, Bangladesh are slated to play their group-stage matches in Kolkata and Mumbai. According to the NDTV report, the ICC is expected to reject the request to move matches out of India and may instead suggest Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram as alternate options.
Notably, Bangladesh had earlier ruled out Chennai.
What’s behind this controversy?
The controversy intensified after Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was released by Kolkata Knight Riders following a BCCI mandate. Soon after, the BCB escalated the matter by requesting a venue shift and imposing a ban on the Indian Premier League telecast in Bangladesh.
BCB president Aminul Islam acknowledged that the board is not the sole decision-maker in the matter. “Since you know that we are not taking decisions alone regarding this World Cup, we will discuss it with the government and we are still where we stood,” he told reporters. Islam pointed out that any revised proposal would require broader approval.
Meanwhile, Bangladeshi officials are already officiating matches in India. During the first India-New Zealand ODI in Vadodara, Bangladeshi umpire Sharfuddoula Saikat was part of the officiating panel. Saikat, along with Gazi Sohel, is also among the designated officials for the T20 World Cup 2026.
The T20 World Cup tournament is scheduled to start from February 7 with Pakistan and the Netherlands locking horns in the first match. India and Sri Lanka are the hosts of this edition of the World Cup. The final match of the tournament will be played on March 8.