The Bangladesh Cricket Board has restated, in fairly plain language, that it does not intend to send its men’s side to India for next year’s T20 World Cup. A video call with the ICC on Tuesday ended without any change of heart and the board’s post-meeting note pulled no punches.
“During the discussions, the BCB reaffirmed its position regarding the decision not to travel to India, citing security concerns,” the statement read. “The board also reiterated its request for the ICC to consider relocating Bangladesh’s matches outside India.”
At present, the fixture list has Bangladesh opening their campaign in Kolkata before a final group game in Mumbai. The event, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, is pencilled in from 7 February 2026.
ICC officials pointed out that the schedule is already public and asked Bangladesh to think again. An internal security review, shared with Dhaka on Monday, found “no specific or heightened threat” to the touring party—standard ICC language that usually keeps matches exactly where they are. Risk levels at the four Indian venues were graded from low to moderate, deemed acceptable under global guidelines.
Even so, board president Aminul Islam, vice-presidents Shakawath Hossain and Faruque Ahmed, cricket-operations chair Nazmul Abedeen and chief executive Nizam Uddin Chowdhury have kept a united front. They say player welfare trumps logistical convenience and insist further talks must “explore possible solutions”. For now, that means a stalemate.
Tensions have been simmering for a while. Last month the BCCI asked Kolkata Knight Riders to cut Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL squad—no public explanation followed. Within days, the Bangladeshi government pulled IPL broadcasts off local TV and the BCB sent its first letter refusing to play World Cup cricket on Indian soil. Relations between the two neighbouring boards, never especially warm, have cooled distinctly since.
Independent security consultant Major (Retd) Habibul Bashir, who advises several Asian boards, believes compromise is still possible. “Moving a couple of group fixtures to Sri Lanka or the UAE isn’t unthinkable,” he said. “But the ICC will resist reshaping an entire tournament unless genuine, verifiable threats emerge.”
Players have kept largely quiet. One senior batter, speaking off the record, said the squad “just wants clarity” before pre-tournament camps begin in December.
For now, clarity is in short supply. Another round of talks is expected later this month; both parties insist dialogue will continue. Whether that leads to fresh venues or a reluctant trip across the border remains the biggest unresolved question in the World Cup build-up.
