The International Cricket Council (ICC) might consider moving Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup 2026 matches out of India to Sri Lanka following a formal request from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), according to a report by Cricbuzz. While the ICC has not taken an official decision yet, the global governing body may not be averse to shifting the matches amid escalating diplomatic tensions between India and Bangladesh.

ICC yet to take official call but may consider relocation

Bangladesh were originally scheduled to play all of their league games in India—three in Kolkata and one in Mumbai. However, following an emergency meeting in Dhaka, the BCB announced that the Bangladesh cricket team will not travel to India for the tournament, citing safety and security concerns.

The Cricbuzz report claimed that while the ICC has not taken an official call on the request as of now, the global governing body might not be averse to shifting Bangladesh’s matches to Sri Lanka, which is co-hosting the T20 World Cup alongside India.

BCB formally requests ICC to relocate matches

The BCB released an official statement confirming that it has formally requested the ICC to consider relocating all of Bangladesh’s matches to a venue outside India.

“An emergency meeting of the Board of Directors of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) was held this afternoon to discuss recent developments related to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to be hosted by India and Sri Lanka,” the official press release from the BCB read.

“The Board reviewed the situation in detail, taking into account developments over the last 24 hours and expressed deep concern over the overall circumstances surrounding the participation of the Bangladesh National Team in matches scheduled to be played in India.”

“Following a thorough assessment of the prevailing situation and the growing concerns regarding the safety and security of the Bangladesh contingent in India and considering the advice from the Bangladesh Government, the Board of Directors resolved that the Bangladesh National Team will not travel to India for the tournament under the current conditions.”

“In light of this decision, the BCB has formally requested the International Cricket Council (ICC), as the event authority, to consider relocating all of Bangladesh’s matches to a venue outside India.”

Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup schedule in India

Bangladesh are scheduled to play four T20 World Cup matches in India:

  • West Indies on February 7 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata

  • Italy on February 9 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata

  • England on February 14 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata

  • Nepal on February 17 at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Diplomatic tensions and Mustafizur Rahman controversy

The BCB’s decision comes in the wake of the Mustafizur Rahman controversy, where the Bangladesh pacer was released by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) from his IPL 2026 contract on the instructions of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The move followed heightened tensions between India and Bangladesh over the recent killing of Hindus by mobs in Bangladesh and the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India in August 2025.

Bangladesh government advisor Asif Nazrul has also called for the suspension of IPL broadcasts in Bangladesh, stating: “Under no circumstances will we tolerate any disrespect toward Bangladesh cricket, Bangladeshi cricketers, or Bangladesh itself.”

Logistical challenges remain

While the ICC may be open to considering the request, shifting matches at such short notice—with the tournament beginning on February 7—presents a logistical nightmare. Opposition teams have already booked air tickets and hotels, and broadcast arrangements are in place.

A BCCI source earlier called such a shift “next to impossible,” but if the ICC deems the relocation necessary for the safety of players and the smooth conduct of the tournament, it may have no choice but to act.