The International Cricket Council (ICC) is reportedly ready to consider Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (PCB) request to shift the T20 World Cup 2026 matches outside India.
Although a formal decision is yet to be taken, sources suggest that Sri Lanka, one of the tournament’s co-hosts, may host Bangladesh’s matches.
Bangladesh were originally scheduled to play all their group-stage matches in India – three in Kolkata and one in Mumbai. The ICC is expected to announce the decision in the next couple of days.
Earlier, the PCB held an emergency meeting in Dhaka and following the advice of the Bangladesh government, it was decided that the Bangladesh national team would not travel to India for the match, citing safety and security reasons.
“Following a thorough assessment of the current situation, taking into account the growing concerns over the safety and security of the Bangladesh team in India and the advice of the Government of Bangladesh, the Board of Directors has decided that the Bangladesh national team will not travel to India for the match under the current circumstances,” the PCB said in a statement.
“In light of this decision, the PCB has formally requested the International Cricket Council (ICC), as the event authority, to consider shifting all Bangladesh matches to a venue outside India,” the board added.
The current situation comes after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) asked Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman due to “recent developments” in the country allegedly linked to incidents affecting the Hindu minority.
In this case, PCB has also announced the Bangladesh team for the T20 World Cup. Liton Kumar Das has been appointed as the captain and Saib Hasan as the vice-captain.
Notably, wicketkeepers Jakar Ali and Mahidul Islam Ankone have not been included in the squad.
Bangladesh, who are placed in Group C, will begin their campaign against the West Indies at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on February 7, as per the ICC’s announced schedule.
They will face Italy and England at the same venue on February 9 and 14 respectively, before completing their group-stage matches against Nepal at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on February 17.
The matches will be held from February 7 to March 8 at eight venues across India and Sri Lanka.
Bangladesh Squad for 2026 T20 World Cup:
Liton Kumar Das (catch), Saif Hasan (VC), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Eman, Tawhid Hridoi, Shamim Hossain, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Nazoom Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Dansim, Shoful Ahmad Islam.