The International Cricket Council (ICC) has opened discussions with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) following Bangladesh’s refusal to play their 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup matches in India, citing security concerns amid strained diplomatic and sporting ties between the two countries.
According to an ESPNcricinfo report, the global cricket body is expected to formally request Bangladesh to reconsider its stance and participate in the tournament as per the original match schedule. This development comes after the BCB officially approached the ICC seeking relocation of their fixtures from India to alternate venues, insisting that “safety and security of players and staff” remains their biggest concern.
Background To The Dispute
Tensions escalated after Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) announced the removal of Bangladesh star pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their 2026 IPL roster. The franchise made the decision after receiving directions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) following controversies surrounding alleged atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh.
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that the move was influenced by “recent developments” and stated that the board had permitted KKR to seek a replacement player if required. Mustafizur was previously bought by KKR in the IPL 2026 mini-auction for ₹9.20 crore.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh has also implemented an unprecedented IPL telecast ban, intensifying the growing sports and diplomatic standoff.
Bangladesh’s 2026 T20 World Cup Schedule
The 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, 2026. Bangladesh is currently scheduled to compete in Group C, with three group-stage matches slated in Kolkata:
- February 7 – vs West Indies
- February 9 – vs Italy
- February 14 – vs England
Their final group match is scheduled to take place in Mumbai on February 17 against Nepal.
However, with Bangladesh refusing to play in India and pressing for venue changes, the ICC now faces the challenge of resolving a sensitive situation quickly to avoid disruptions to the tournament schedule.
What Lies Ahead?
The ICC’s engagement with BCB is expected to continue over the coming weeks as the governing body aims to reach a mutually acceptable resolution. At present, the ICC has not issued an official public statement, but internal discussions are believed to be ongoing.
The cricketing world will be closely watching how events unfold, as any alteration in fixtures could set a precedent and potentially impact tournament logistics, security planning, and broadcasting arrangements.