Published: Jan 05, 2026, 06:27 PM (IST)
Edited: Jan 05, 2026, 06:27 PM (IST)
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is actively working on revising the schedule for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. A revised schedule for the tournament, set to begin on February 7, could be released soon.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has officially requested that its Group C matches be moved outside India, citing concerns over the safety of its players and team members. The situation escalated after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) instructed Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh’s bowler Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL squad.
Following the news of Mustafizur Rahman’s release, the Bangladesh Cricket Board convened an emergency meeting on Sunday to discuss the implications for the 2026 T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to be held in India and Sri Lanka from February 7. According to reports, the BCB seriously assessed the situation and decided to request the ICC to relocate Bangladesh’s matches outside India. Under these circumstances, Bangladesh announced that its team would not travel to India for the tournament.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board’s refusal to travel to India has also created challenges for broadcasters and organizers. Bangladesh now seeks a similar arrangement to Pakistan’s, which does not tour India and does not play matches in India during ICC and ACC events. The ICC is reportedly working on a revised schedule, but changing venues at this late stage poses significant logistical challenges.
Tickets for the matches in Mumbai and Kolkata are already sold out, and many Bangladesh fans have booked flights and hotels. Shifting matches to Sri Lanka now would cause significant inconvenience, forcing fans to alter or cancel their plans. This could be a major setback for Bangladesh fans.
