Bangladesh Requests Relocation of T20 World Cup Matches from India to Sri Lanka

Bangladesh has Requested ITC to Change the Venue of its Matches

Bangladesh is set to request the International Cricket Council (ICC) to relocate its matches for the 2026 T20 World Cup from India to Sri Lanka, citing player safety concerns after a top Bangladeshi player was dropped from the Indian Premier League (IPL), according to a government official.

Amid rising political tensions between the two South Asian nations, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has been urged by its government to write to the ICC, requesting a change of venue and seeking clarification regarding the sudden withdrawal of fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL, stated youth and sports advisor Asif Nazrul in a statement. "As the advisor responsible for the Ministry of Sports, I have asked the BCB to explain the entire situation to the ICC. The council should inform that since a Bangladeshi cricketer is unable to play in India despite having a contract, the entire Bangladeshi cricket team cannot feel safe going to play in the World Cup," Asif wrote on social media.

"I have also instructed the council to request that the World Cup matches take place in Sri Lanka," he added. "We will not accept any insult to Bangladeshi cricket, its players, and Bangladesh in any form. The days of servitude are behind us." BCB President Aminul Islam Bulbul mentioned that the council will hold an emergency meeting later on Sunday. "The dignity and security of our cricketers are our top priorities, and we will make a decision at the right time, considering these factors," he told reporters on Saturday night.

The reigning champions, India, and the 2014 winners, Sri Lanka, will co-host the T20 World Cup from February 7 to March 8. Bangladesh is scheduled to play all of its group stage matches in India, with three matches allocated to Eden Gardens in Kolkata and one at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

If the ICC, led by former BCCI chief Jay Shah, considers the BCB's request, Bangladesh will become the second country whose matches are moved from India. Sri Lanka will host all of Pakistan's matches, as the 2009 champions will not travel to India in an ICC-mediated agreement allowing historical rivals to avoid crossing each other's borders.

On that morning, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) announced that Mustafizur has been released from the franchise's roster for IPL 2026 after being advised to do so by the BCCI, a move confirmed by Indian cricket board secretary Devajit Saikia. "Due to recent developments occurring throughout the entire region, the BCCI instructed the KKR franchise to release one of their players, Mustafizur Rahman from Bangladesh, from their squad, and the BCCI also stated that if a replacement is required, the BCCI will allow that replacement," Saikia told the Indian news agency ANI.

Political tensions have Influenced Sports Current tensions between India and Bangladesh have escalated in recent weeks after a 25-year-old Hindu man was hanged and publicly burned in Bangladesh, following accusations of blasphemy. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs condemned what it termed an "ongoing hostility directed against minorities" last month. A few days later, Hindutva activists attempted to besiege the Bangladesh Embassy in New Delhi, protesting against the neighboring nation for failing to protect its Hindu minorities.

Diplomatic relations between former close allies have been severely tested since last August when former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to New Delhi from Dhaka following a revolt against her regime. Bangladesh blames India for some of its problems, including the support Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi provided to Hasina during her time in power. Political tensions have impacted sports in recent months, with the recent tour of the Bangladeshi women's cricket team in India indefinitely postponed, and the Indian men's team's tour to Bangladesh facing the same fate in August. The BCCI's action to drop Mustafizur from the IPL has generated negative reactions in Bangladesh, where the popular franchise league may face a blackout.

Bangladeshi government official Nazrul stated that he has requested the national broadcasting body to "submit a request to suspend the broadcasting of the IPL tournament in Bangladesh."