Dhaka, January 7, 2026: Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Wednesday said it was in discussions with the International Cricket Council (ICC) to find a “practical” solution to its request to move Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup matches out of India, citing security concerns amid strained bilateral relations.
The development follows India’s decision to force Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman to withdraw from the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Saturday, a move that triggered strong reactions in Dhaka. With tensions rising between the two neighbours, Bangladesh has urged the ICC to relocate its World Cup fixtures from India to co-host Sri Lanka.
The T20 World Cup is scheduled to begin on February 7, with Bangladesh set to play all four of its group-stage matches in India.
Senior BCB official Nazmul Abedeen Fahim told AFP that talks with the ICC were ongoing “regarding security issues.” In a statement, the BCB said it would “continue constructive engagement with the ICC and relevant event authorities” to seek an “amicable and practical solution that ensures the smooth and successful participation of the team.”
The board emphasized that it remains “firmly committed to placing the highest priority on the safety, security and well-being” of its players and support staff. The ICC has so far not commented on the matter.
Mustafizur Rahman, a key member of Bangladesh’s bowling attack, was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders for over $1 million at the IPL auction in December. However, he was subsequently released on the advice of the Indian cricket board following what it described as “recent developments.”
Political relations between India and Bangladesh have remained tense since a mass uprising in Dhaka in 2024 ousted then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina, a close ally of New Delhi. India’s foreign ministry last month criticised what it termed “unremitting hostility against minorities” in Muslim-majority Bangladesh, an allegation rejected by Bangladesh’s interim leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, who accused India of exaggerating the scale of violence.
