Bangladesh Seeks Shift of T20 World Cup Matches to Sri Lanka, BCCI Pushes Back

The simmering dispute around Mustafizur Rahman's IPL exit has now spilled into international cricket, with Bangladesh preparing to formally approach the International Cricket Council over the venue of its upcoming T20 World Cup matches.

As tensions rise between the two cricket boards, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has firmly pushed back, warning that any last-minute changes would create serious complications for the tournament.

Bangladesh seeks venue review amid security concerns

The Bangladesh Cricket Board is set to write to the International Cricket Council, seeking a review of security arrangements for its national team during the T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8. Bangladesh are drawn in Group A alongside England, Italy, Nepal and the West Indies.

Under the current schedule, Bangladesh are due to play three group matches in Kolkata and one in Mumbai. However, following recent developments, the BCB is preparing to ask that all of Bangladesh's fixtures be shifted out of India and staged in Sri Lanka instead.

BCCI calls proposed shift a logistical challenge

Reacting to reports of Bangladesh's planned request, the Board of Control for Cricket in India made it clear that altering the schedule would be extremely difficult. A senior BCCI source described the idea as impractical, pointing to the scale of planning already in place for the multi-nation event.

"You can't just change games at someone's whims and fancies. It is a logistical nightmare. Think about opposition teams. Their air tickets, hotels are booked," news agency PTI quoted the source as saying.

The official also highlighted the operational complexity of the tournament's split-host format. "Also, on all days, there are three games each, which means one game is in Sri Lanka. There is a broadcast crew. So it will be easier said than done," the source added.

Mustafizur Rahman release triggers escalation

The standoff intensified after the Kolkata Knight Riders released Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman ahead of the Indian Premier League 2026 season. The 30-year-old had been bought for INR 9.2 crore but was asked to be let go after the BCCI directed the franchise to remove him from their squad.

The decision was taken against the backdrop of growing political strain between India and Bangladesh, following reports of Hindu community members being killed in Bangladesh. The move prompted an emergency meeting within the Bangladesh board later the same day.

Bangladesh government backs request to ICC

Bangladesh's sports ministry has now stepped into the matter, instructing the BCB to formally outline its concerns to the ICC. Government adviser Asif Nazrul confirmed the directive in a social media post written in Bengali.

"As the adviser in charge of the Ministry of Sports, I have instructed the Cricket Control Board to put the entire matter in writing and explain it to the ICC," he wrote.

He went further by linking Rahman's IPL situation to broader safety concerns. "The board must make it clear that if a Bangladeshi cricketer, despite being under contract, cannot play in India, then the Bangladesh national team cannot feel safe travelling to India to play the World Cup. I have also directed the board to formally request that Bangladesh's World Cup matches be held in Sri Lanka instead," he added.

As things stand, Bangladesh are scheduled to face the West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9 and England on February 14 in Kolkata, before playing Nepal in Mumbai on February 17. Whether those fixtures remain in India now depends on how the ICC responds to the growing rift between the two boards.