Bangladesh Requests ICC to Relocate T20 World Cup Matches from India
Bangladesh has officially asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) to move their upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 matches away from India. This request comes from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and was made due to safety worries.
In an exclusive phone interview, BCB director Faruque Ahmed explained that the Bangladeshi government is now concerned about the safety of their cricket team traveling to India. This decision follows an incident during the Indian Premier League (IPL) when BCCI was unable to ensure security for Bangladeshi player Mustafizur Rahman.
Recently, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) faced significant backlash from right-wing groups, leading them to ask the Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur from their squad. Critics voiced their displeasure on social media, arguing that allowing a Bangladeshi cricketer to play during a time of rising tensions regarding attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh was inappropriate.
Faruque Ahmed mentioned that an official from the BCCI, Devajit Saikia, had indicated that the board could not guarantee Mustafizur’s safety, prompting the decision to pull him from the team.
“The decision to release Mustafizur was likely due to security concerns amid the ongoing tensions between our countries. Considering the Bangladesh team will also have to travel to cities like Kolkata and Mumbai, the issues surrounding his safety raised a red flag for our government,” Faruque stated.
He acknowledged that political factors played a role in the decision, with the Bangladeshi government stepping in once it became evident that a single player’s safety could not be assured.
“When the security of one player is compromised, it naturally raises concerns for our entire squad and support staff,” he added.
Faruque also referenced Pakistan’s cricketing situation, noting that India and Pakistan already have a hybrid model in place for international tournaments, suggesting that Bangladesh’s request follows a similar line of thinking.
“In recent times, we’ve seen a hybrid model where India plays in Dubai and Pakistan does not travel to India; this is worth considering for our situation as well,” he concluded.
With the T20 World Cup just a month away, the BCB’s concerns reflect both safety and political realities surrounding international cricket.
