New Delhi/Dubai: International Cricket Council (ICC) Chairman Jay Shah is considering strict action against the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) if Bangladesh continues to refuse to tour India for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, ICC sources said on Friday.
According to sources, Jay Shah is currently in Dubai and is expected to take a final call on the matter after reviewing the situation. The ICC has already rejected Bangladesh’s request to move its World Cup matches out of India.
Bangladesh Wants Matches Shifted Out Of India
The controversy began after the BCB requested the ICC to shift Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka, citing alleged security and safety concerns for its players.
However, the ICC turned down the request earlier this week, stating that independent security assessments do not support Bangladesh’s claims.
ICC Security Assessment Clears India
ICC sources said that independent risk assessments, conducted by internationally recognised security experts, found no specific or direct threat to the Bangladesh team, officials, or match venues in India.
According to the assessment:
- Overall security risk for the tournament in India is low to moderate
- Risks are consistent with other major global sporting events
- No unmanageable threats were identified
- Fixtures in Kolkata and Mumbai can be handled through standard security planning
Based on these findings, the ICC formally rejected BCB’s request to relocate the matches.
Political Tensions Add To The Strain
Relations between India and Bangladesh have been strained amid rising incidents of crimes against minorities in Bangladesh, which have triggered strong reactions in India.
Last year, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) asked IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad. The move followed growing public and political pressure in India over alleged atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh.
Following Mustafizur’s removal from the IPL, the BCB began raising concerns about the safety of its players travelling to India.
BCB Stands Firm Despite ICC Rejection
Despite the ICC’s refusal, BCB President Aminul Islam reiterated on Thursday that Bangladesh will not play its World Cup matches in India.
“We will continue to communicate with the ICC. We want to play the World Cup, but we won’t play in India. We will keep fighting,” Aminul Islam said.
He further claimed that India played a dominant role in ICC decisions and criticised the handling of the Mustafizur issue.
“The Mustafizur issue is not an isolated one. They were the sole decision-makers in that matter,” he added.
Bangladesh Government Also Voices Concerns
Bangladesh’s Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul also criticised the ICC, stating that the governing body failed to address their concerns.
“ICC has failed to convince us on the security question. Even the Indian government did not communicate with us or try to assuage our fears,” Nazrul said.
Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule In India
As per the official schedule:
- February 7: Bangladesh vs West Indies – Eden Gardens, Kolkata
- February 9: Bangladesh vs Italy – Eden Gardens, Kolkata
- Bangladesh vs England – Kolkata
- Bangladesh vs Nepal – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Bangladesh are led by Litton Das in the tournament.
What’s Next?
With the ICC standing firm and Bangladesh refusing to budge, the situation now hinges on Jay Shah’s final decision, which could include disciplinary action if Bangladesh refuses to honour its tournament commitments.