Bangladesh national cricket team has decided not to travel to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026, citing serious concerns over the safety and security of its players and support staff. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has formally requested the ICC to shift all of the team’s World Cup fixtures from Indian venues to an alternative host, with Sri Lanka emerging as their preferred option.
Decision not to tour India
The BCB announced after an emergency board meeting that the team will not travel to India “under the current conditions.” The decision follows days of tension between the boards and comes amid wider political and social strains between the two neighbouring countries.
In its official statement, the BCB said it carried out a “thorough assessment” of the situation and acted on advice from the Bangladesh government before resolving to withdraw from matches scheduled in India.
Safety and political concerns
Officials in Dhaka have pointed to “growing concerns regarding the safety and security of the Bangladesh contingent in India” as the central reason for the stand. Bangladesh’s interim government advisor for Youth and Sports, Asif Nazrul, publicly stated that the team would not feel safe playing in India under the current climate.
The controversy escalated after Indian authorities directed IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their squad, a move that triggered anger in Bangladesh and sharpened calls to review cricketing ties.
Appeal to ICC and preferred alternate venue
The BCB has written to the International Cricket Council asking that all its T20 World Cup group matches be moved away from India. Sri Lanka has been proposed as the primary alternative host, with Bangladesh indicating it would be willing to play its fixtures there instead of in Kolkata and Mumbai.
The ICC has yet to issue a formal response, while the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has warned that altering the tournament schedule and venues at this stage would be a “logistical nightmare.”
Impact on India–Bangladesh cricket ties
This standoff comes on the back of India already putting its own scheduled white-ball tour of Bangladesh on hold amid political uncertainty and security concerns. A series of three ODIs and three T20Is, originally slated for August 2025, has been deferred to September 2026 after the Indian government advised against touring “at this stage.”
The twin developments raise the prospect of India and Bangladesh, like India and Pakistan, meeting predominantly at neutral venues in global tournaments rather than in bilateral series hosted in either country.
Reaction from stakeholders and fans
The BCB’s hard line has been welcomed by some sections in Bangladesh, who see it as a firm response to what they describe as an increasingly hostile atmosphere. However, fans in both countries have expressed disappointment online, worried that diplomatic tensions are now overshadowing one of South Asia’s most followed sporting rivalries.
Broadcasters and tournament organisers now face uncertainty as they await the ICC’s decision on whether Bangladesh’s matches can be moved, or if the team will risk missing the event altogether should a compromise not be reached.
