Bangladesh has made it clear it will not travel to India for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, citing unresolved security concerns and accusing the global cricket body of failing to act fairly.
Bangladesh’s Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul said there was “no scope” for reversing the government’s decision not to play T20 World Cup matches in India. Speaking to reporters after a meeting with national cricketers at a city hotel, he stressed that security would not be compromised under any circumstances.
“There will be no compromise on security,” Nazrul said, adding that the government’s stance remains unchanged.
ICC accused of not reviewing Bangladesh request
Nazrul said Bangladesh had formally requested a change of venue, but claimed the International Cricket Council did not properly review or accommodate the request.
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“We believe the ICC did not act with due fairness in this matter. We still expect the governing body to ensure justice,” he said, without disclosing specific security assessments.
Dhaka stands firm
Officials confirmed that Bangladesh has refused to change its stance even as the ICC plans to proceed with the tournament regardless of Bangladesh’s participation. The decision has created uncertainty around the country’s involvement in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Nazrul reiterated that the government’s decision is final and that Bangladesh will not go to India to play World Cup matches.
BCB prefers Sri Lanka option
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said it would approach the ICC again in hopes of finding a solution. The BCB president and officials indicated they are exploring last-ditch options to keep Bangladesh in the tournament.
Former captain Aminul Islam said Bangladesh wants to play its World Cup matches in Sri Lanka, expressing hope that the ICC would allow the change.
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Bangladesh officials said the request for relocation stems from unresolved safety issues related to playing in India. While the ICC has so far declined to shift venues, Bangladesh maintains that player safety must take priority over scheduling.
Sports officials said they expect the ICC to eventually offer an alternative venue, with Sri Lanka viewed as the most viable option.
Impact on tournament planning
The standoff threatens to affect scheduling, broadcasting arrangements, and regional cricket diplomacy. With Bangladesh standing firm and the ICC pressing ahead, the situation casts a shadow over the tournament’s smooth organisation.
For now, Bangladesh insists it will only participate if its security concerns are addressed and a neutral or alternative venue is approved.
A day ago, the International Cricket Council made it clear that Bangladesh’s matches will not be moved from India.
According to a press release issued by the global cricket body, the T20 World Cup 2026 will take place in India and Sri Lanka as scheduled. The ICC stated that the Bangladesh national cricket team face no security threat in India.
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An ICC spokesperson said: "Over the past several weeks, the ICC has engaged with the BCB in sustained and constructive dialogue, with the clear objective of enabling Bangladesh’s participation in the tournament."
"During this period, the ICC has shared detailed inputs, including independent security assessments, comprehensive venue-level security plans and formal assurances from the host authorities, all of which consistently concluded that there is no credible or verifiable threat to the safety or security of the Bangladesh team in India," he said.
