The International Cricket Council (ICC) board has rejected the Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) request to hold their matches outside India. Presented for a vote, the proposal saw BCB face a strong defeat.
In a ballot involving 16 countries, 14 voted against Bangladesh's proposal, with only Pakistan and Bangladesh supporting it.
ICC firmly communicated to BCB to inform their government of this decision. A warning was issued, indicating that if Bangladesh persists on not playing in India, they may face elimination from the tournament.
According to sources, should this situation arise, Scotland may replace Bangladesh in the tournament. ICC has adopted a strict stance on this matter, with a final decision expected soon.
The controversy began when Mustafizur Rahman's IPL contract was terminated, prompting BCB to formally request ICC for their matches to be relocated from India. Citing safety concerns and player security, BCB refused to send the team to India, but the ICC's position has now cooled these apprehensions.
Bangladesh Demanded Group Swap
Under governmental pressure, BCB proposed a group swap with Ireland. Currently in Group C, Bangladesh's games are scheduled in Kolkata and Mumbai. Bangladesh sought to move to Group B, playing matches in Sri Lanka instead.
What Transpired in the ICC Meeting? Full Details
The decision followed an ICC board video conference on Wednesday, January 21, convened because BCB requested their matches be moved from India to Sri Lanka.
After reviewing all security reports, including independent investigations, ICC concluded that no threat exists to Bangladesh players, media, officials, or fans in India.
ICC insisted that altering the schedule so close to the tournament's start without substantial security threats is impractical. Doing so could adversely affect future ICC events and harm the organization's impartiality.
Repeated attempts through dialogues and emails were made by ICC to resolve the issue with BCB, providing comprehensive security details, including central and state security arrangements.
An ICC spokesperson remarked - In the past weeks, ongoing discussions with BCB aimed to ensure Bangladesh's participation. We provided them independent security reports, stadium security plans, and host nation guarantees. All concluded no security threats for Bangladesh in India; yet BCB persisted, linking the tournament with a player's unrelated domestic league issue, which bears no relevance to tournament security.
ICC further stated that decisions adhere to security reports, host guarantees, and established rules applying equally across 20 teams. No match relocations will occur without concrete evidence of security threats to Bangladesh. Doing so could disrupt schedules for remaining teams and fans worldwide, presenting an improper precedent for future tournaments, impacting ICC integrity. The ICC pledges to maintain transparency, enforce uniform rules, and safeguard global cricket interests.
Bangladesh's T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule
February 7, 2026: Bangladesh vs. West Indies, 3 PM, Eden Gardens (Kolkata) February 9, 2026: Bangladesh vs. Italy, 11 AM, Eden Gardens (Kolkata) February 14, 2026: Bangladesh vs. England, 3 PM, Eden Gardens (Kolkata) February 17, 2026: Bangladesh vs. Nepal, 7 PM, Wankhede Stadium (Mumbai)
