New Delhi, January 7 2026 – The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially rejected Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) request to relocate the fixtures of the national team out of India to be played at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The ICC has concluded that there aren’t any credible security threats or information that would justify a change.
The decision is made amid growing tensions between cricket officials and the governments, following concerns raised by the BCB concerning the safety and security of its officials and players should they travel to and play in India during the world championship that is scheduled to run from February 7 through March 8, 2026.
The ICC’s review, which was conducted by internal assessments and conversations with BCB via a call on January 6th it concluded that there is no security threat that could be acted upon for Bangladesh. In the end, the ruling body was not willing to change the schedule of the tournament or move Bangladesh’s games to a neutral location like Sri Lanka, as had been requested by the BCB.
Background to the Request
The debate began with the Bangladesh Cricket Board lodging a formal request to the ICC to transfer its cricket team’s matches from India and citing security concerns for players following that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) issued a directive to players of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to remove Bangladeshi player Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 roster. The decision came in the wake of a public and political protests in India over perceived discrimination against minority groups in Bangladesh.
In response to BCCI’s decision and the BCB’s response, the BCB did not just demand an alternative venue, however, they also announced a complete ban on all IPL broadcast rights and telecast rights within Bangladesh which further strained sports ties between the two neighboring cricket boards.
A meeting of emergency nature held in the BCB on January 4 came to an end by the board agreeing that Bangladesh will not be able to travel to India under current circumstances unless credible assurances of security and safety are provided. The BCB expressed its concern in stating that the absence of such assurances rendered it impossible that the squad take part in games that were scheduled to take place on Indian cities.
ICC’s Assessment and Response
In the virtual meeting together with BCB, ICC officials communicated that there were no security red flags and no specific reports of intelligence suggested an imminent danger for the Bangladesh contingent’s security in India. The ICC has also stated that it would not change the schedule of matches that has been finalised or the venues at this stage in the process of an application for relocation.
People familiar with the discussion said that the ICC warned BCB that any failure to travel to and play in India according to the current schedule could mean forfeiting points or matches however neither the ICC or the BCB has officially confirmed the precise wording of the message.
The Bangladesh team is being scheduled for in three Group C games in Kolkata with West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9 in addition to England at 14 February before heading into Mumbai for a match to play Nepal in the Wankhede Stadium on February 17.
Stance of the Bangladesh Cricket Board
The BCB’s decision is based on its belief that the recent circumstances have created a risky environment in which the safety of its players might be in danger. Officials claimed that IPL contract ending of a major national player is indicative of wider political and social tensions, which undermined confidence in the security assurances from Indian authorities.
In statements issued following the board’s meeting BCB stated that participation in competitions and travel to India could only be conducted when the team had clear, reliable assurances that would ensure the security of the players as well as support staff and officials. The BCB’s leadership cited guidance given by officials from the Government of Bangladesh as a major factor in their decision-making.
The response from cricket officials and politicians from Bangladesh has been divided, with some praising the board’s position on the welfare of players, however, others have expressed concerns over the implications of absence from an important ICC tournament.
Broader Implications for the T20 World Cup
The decision of the ICC to not accept the relocation request has major impacts on the tournament’s organizational structure. The 20-team tournament, which is co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, has a strictly-planned fixture schedule broadcast agreements, as well as logistical arrangements that are in place. ICC officials have emphasized the logistics complexity and the potential disruption changing venues in this phase will cause for a variety of parties as well as broadcasters, other teams sponsors, as well as cities hosting the tournament.
Analysts from the Cricket Association have pointed out the BCB’s request, as well as the ICC’s denial are an unusual situation where the political and diplomatic tensions are directly connected to the management of an sport event that is international in scope.
However, despite the denial however, the ICC has said it will continue to dialog in conjunction with BCB to address the BCB’s concerns. However, it has affirmed that it will go on according to the schedule, with Bangladesh’s matches in India.
Security Protocols and Assurances
In its review, the ICC reported that it had reviewed security procedures at sites that are scheduled for Bangladesh’s games which include Eden Gardens in Kolkata and Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. According to reports the review concluded that the existing protocols and arrangements for host countries conformed to international standards and gave no reason to be concerned or change of plans.
Although the ICC hasn’t issued an elaborate public statement outlining the security rationale however, the officials who took part with the ruling have emphasized that the lack of reliable threat information played a major reason for the decision to reject the request for relocation.
Cricket Diplomacy and Future Engagements
This is an interesting chapter in cricketing relations that exist between Bangladesh and India two nations that play Test cricket that have a long history of engagements in sports. In the past, the bilateral series as well as multi-nation competitions have served as opportunities for rivalry in addition to mutual respect. However, the present standoff illustrates the way issues outside of sport can affect the decisions of sportsmen at the most elite levels.
Officials of the ICC have expressed their hope that the continued diplomatic collaboration between the respective cricket boards and governments will eventually ensure Bangladesh’s involvement in this tournament with no issues making sure that Bangladesh’s team is able to play in every scheduled match.
Schedule Stability and Tournament Integrity
As the cricketing world gears up to host one of the major events of the 2026 calendar the ICC has repeatedly stressed the importance of maintaining consistency and reliability of the schedule. The idea of changing venues at this stage and especially for a single player, was seen as a threat to the uniform competitive environment in the World Cup.
The official response from the ICC is expected on January 10, which will provide further clarity on the organisation’s position and the possible avenues to solution with Bangladesh Cricket Board.
International Reaction
International cricket players have been keeping a close eye on the situation due to the possibility of setting guidelines for the way security and diplomatic issues are dealt with by the ICC for future international events. If Bangladesh choose for not traveling to India for their matches this could result in points being forfeited or rescheduling issues that could impact the balance of play in the tournament.
Cricket federations across Asia and beyond are conducting separate consultations to assess the wider impact and possible response to similar demands in the future which highlight the delicate balance between diplomacy, sports and governance.
The next important developments will be announced in the next few days, as the ICC has its response to the BCB written and as talks between BCB, ICC, and other parties continue.
