Dhaka, January 12, 2026: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Monday clarified that it is still awaiting a formal response from the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding its request to relocate the national men’s team’s T20 World Cup 2026 matches from India over security concerns.
With just over three weeks remaining before the tournament, uncertainty continues over whether the Bangladesh Tigers will travel to India for their scheduled matches. Earlier reports suggested that the ICC is exploring alternative venues, although these are unlikely to include Sri Lanka, contrary to BCB preferences. Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram have reportedly been approached by the ICC and BCCI as potential hosting sites.
The issue surfaced when Asif Nazrul, Adviser for Bangladesh’s Ministry of Youth & Sports, cited an ICC security assessment highlighting concerns related to player safety, fan presence, and the timing of upcoming elections. Nazrul described the ICC’s security expectations as “bizarre, unrealistic, and unreasonable.”
The BCB later clarified that Nazrul’s statements referred to internal communications with the ICC Security Department and did not constitute a formal response. The board reiterated that it formally requested relocation of Bangladesh’s matches and is still awaiting the ICC’s official decision.
The final venue decision is critical as the countdown to the T20 World Cup approaches, with player safety and logistics remaining key concerns for Bangladesh.
