The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has revealed that the International Cricket Council (ICC) has expressed willingness to work closely with them to address security concerns regarding the T20 World Cup 2026 in India. The development comes after Bangladesh requested that their four matches scheduled in India be relocated to co-host Sri Lanka following the controversy surrounding pacer Mustafizur Rahman’s removal from the IPL on BCCI’s instructions.

The BCB released an official statement on Wednesday confirming that they have received a response from the ICC regarding their concerns over the safety and security of the Bangladesh national cricket team for the upcoming tournament.

ICC commits to full participation of Bangladesh team

“The Bangladesh Cricket Board has received response from the ICC regarding the Board’s expressed concerns over the safety and security of the Bangladesh National Cricket Team in India for the ICC T20 World Cup, including the request for relocation of the team’s matches,” the BCB said in a statement.

“In its communication, the ICC has reiterated its commitment to ensuring the full and uninterrupted participation of the Bangladesh team in the tournament. The ICC has conveyed its willingness to work closely with the BCB to address the concerns raised and has assured that the Board’s inputs will be welcomed and duly considered as part of the detailed security planning for the event,” the statement added.

The ICC has not issued a public response to the BCB on this subject yet, maintaining a diplomatic approach to the escalating crisis.

T20 World Cup matches scheduled in Kolkata and Mumbai

The T20 World Cup 2026 starts on February 7, and Bangladesh are due to play their four group stage matches in Kolkata and Mumbai. The BCB’s request to shift these venues to Sri Lanka came after hostilities rose between India and Bangladesh following Mustafizur Rahman’s ouster from the IPL, which prompted the BCB to withdraw the No Objection Certificate (NoC) granted to the pacer.

The move by the BCCI to instruct Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Mustafizur from his Rs 9.20 crore contract was seen as a reaction to attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2025.

ICC rejects venue change request, seeks diplomatic solution

According to ICC sources speaking to NDTV, the governing body has explicitly rejected the BCB’s proposal to shift the scheduled venues away from India. While tensions remain high regarding the hosting arrangements, the ICC is opting for a diplomatic approach, scheduling a series of high-level meetings intended to resolve the crisis and ensure the matches can proceed under mutually agreeable conditions.

In a move to stabilize the situation and maintain the integrity of the competition, the ICC has clarified that it has not asked Bangladesh to forfeit any points at this stage. Despite the logistical and political hurdles being discussed, the focus remains on finding a secondary solution through dialogue rather than punitive measures.

Both organizations are expected to continue these deliberations over the coming days to provide clarity for the players and fans alike.

What triggered the crisis?

The controversy began when the BCCI instructed KKR to release Mustafizur Rahman from his IPL contract after outrage over attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh. The BCB retaliated by withdrawing Mustafizur’s NoC and demanding that all their T20 World Cup matches be shifted out of India, citing security concerns for their players.

The standoff has created significant uncertainty around the T20 World Cup, with both sides holding firm on their positions. The ICC’s diplomatic efforts will be crucial in resolving this crisis before the tournament begins in just over a month.