ICC Rejects Bangladesh’s Bid to Shift T20 World Cup Matches, Issues Stern Warning

The International Cricket Council (ICC), under the leadership of chairman Jay Shah, has firmly turned down a request from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to move its 2026 T20 World Cup games away from India to Sri Lanka, according to sources.

The dispute arose after the BCB expressed frustration over the release of fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from his Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) contract in the Indian Premier League (IPL). In response, Bangladesh imposed a ban on broadcasting IPL matches domestically and formally asked the ICC to relocate its World Cup fixtures.

During a virtual meeting held on Tuesday, ICC officials informed the BCB that the request was denied, citing security issues with the proposed alternative venue. The council emphasized that Bangladesh’s men’s team is required to fulfill its schedule in India, with sources confirming that any refusal to travel would lead to the forfeiture of points in the tournament.

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No formal statement regarding the discussion has been released by the ICC, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), or the BCB.

The upcoming T20 World Cup is scheduled to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, 2026. Bangladesh, placed in Group C, is set to open its campaign in Kolkata with matches against the West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9, and England on February 14, before concluding the group stage in Mumbai against Nepal on February 17.

The underlying tension stems from the BCCI’s decision to instruct KKR to release Mustafizur from his Rs 9.20 crore deal, a move reportedly directed from the highest levels of the board amid strained political relations between the two nations. Sources indicate that the IPL Governing Council and senior officials were not consulted on the matter.