Bangladesh Wants T20 WC Matches Moved From India; BCCI Calls It a ‘Logistical Nightmare’

The ongoing controversy over Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman in the Indian Premier League (IPL) has escalated, with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) reportedly preparing to write to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to request the relocation of its T20 World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka.

The 20-team tournament is scheduled to be held across India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, with Bangladesh placed in Group A alongside England, Italy, Nepal, and the West Indies. The team is slated to play its matches in Kolkata and Mumbai. However, the BCB is now set to formally raise concerns about security arrangements in India, according to ESPNCricinfo.

BCCI Pushback: Logistical Concerns

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) responded to the reports, calling any potential shift of Bangladesh’s matches a “logistical nightmare.”

“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,” a BCCI source told news agency PTI.

The source added, “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.”

What Triggered the Row

Tensions escalated on Saturday after Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) released Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad. KKR had signed the 30-year-old for INR 9.2 crore but were ordered by the BCCI to release him amid rising political tensions between India and Bangladesh, particularly following incidents of attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh.

Following Rahman’s release, the BCB convened an emergency meeting and, under instructions from the Bangladeshi sports ministry, decided to approach the ICC about relocating T20 World Cup matches.

“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,” government advisor Asif Nazrul wrote in Bengali on Facebook.

He added, “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 for the World Cup. I have also directed the board to formally request that Bangladesh’s World Cup matches be held in Sri Lanka instead.”

Bangladesh’s Scheduled Matches

Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup fixtures currently are:

• February 7: vs West Indies (Kolkata)

• February 9: vs Italy (Kolkata)

• February 14: vs England (Kolkata)

• February 17: vs Nepal (Mumbai)

The situation remains fluid, and the ICC’s response to the BCB’s potential request is awaited.