The ICC has rejected Bangladesh Cricket Board's plea to relocate its 2026 T20 World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka, insisting the team travel to India or face point deductions. This follows safety concerns raised after Mustafizur Rahman's IPL release amid India-Bangladesh tensions.
New Delhi, January 7, 2026: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has firmly rejected the Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) recent request to shift its T20 World Cup 2026 matches from India to Sri Lanka, as reported in earlier developments.
The BCB's plea stemmed from player safety worries, triggered by the release of pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders IPL squad on BCCI instructions amid protests over reported atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh. In response, Bangladesh's Sports Ministry had directed the BCB to formally approach the ICC and even suspend IPL broadcasts.
In a virtual meeting, ICC officials informed the BCB that matches must proceed in India, with point deductions as a penalty for non-compliance. While BCB sources say no official notification has been received, ICC's position is clear ahead of the tournament starting February 7, 2026, primarily hosted by India.
Discussions continue, but the standoff risks disrupting Bangladesh's schedule, including league games in Kolkata and Mumbai.