Will Bangladesh Play Its T20 World Cup Matches Outside Of India? BCCI Secretary Provides Huge Update

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary, Devajit Saikia, stated on Thursday that the board is “not in the loop" and unaware of any communication between the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding BCB’s request to move Bangladesh’s ICC T20 World Cup matches outside India, and the ICC’s stance on the matter.

On Tuesday afternoon, a video conference took place between the BCB and the ICC to discuss Bangladesh’s participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The BCB has been seeking to relocate their team’s matches in the T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, outside India since the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) released pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad upon BCCI’s instructions, amid ongoing atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh.

“As of now, BCCI is not in the loop regarding any communication between the Bangladesh Cricket Board and the ICC, so we are totally unaware. Once we receive information, we will keep you updated," Saikia was quoted as saying to ANI.

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During the discussions, the BCB requested the ICC to consider moving Bangladesh’s matches outside India. The ICC noted that the tournament itinerary had already been announced and asked the BCB to reconsider its stance, but the BCB maintained its position. Both parties agreed to continue discussions to explore possible solutions. The BCB remains committed to safeguarding the well-being of its players, officials, and staff while working constructively with the ICC to address the issue.

Will Bangladesh’s Matches Be Moved Out Of India?

Earlier, Bangladesh’s Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul claimed that there is “no atmosphere to play" the T20 World Cup in India, referring to a “letter" from the ICC security team, as reported by the state news agency BSS on Monday. ICC sources stated on Monday that independent risk assessments by internationally recognised security experts do not conclude that Bangladesh cannot play its scheduled T20 World Cup matches in India. The overall security risk for the tournament in India has been assessed as low to moderate, similar to many major global sporting events. The assessments did not identify any specific or direct threat to the Bangladesh team, its officials, or the match venues in India. Based on professional advice, the risk associated with Bangladesh’s scheduled fixtures in Kolkata and Mumbai is considered low to moderate, with no indication of risks that cannot be effectively managed through established security planning and mitigation measures.

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The ICC is aware of the public comments made regarding Bangladesh’s participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, including selective references to the ICC’s security risk assessment. The ICC’s security plan for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 remains under continuous review. Participating members, including the Bangladesh Cricket Board, are being consulted as part of this process, and the ICC is open to constructive dialogue and feedback to further strengthen arrangements where appropriate.

“It is important to clarify that the ICC’s independent risk assessments, carried out by internationally recognised security experts, do not conclude that Bangladesh cannot play its scheduled matches in India," ANI quoted a source as saying.

The ICC has full confidence in the security arrangements being developed in collaboration with the BCCI and relevant local authorities, who have a strong track record of safely delivering major international sporting events.

The ICC’s position remains unchanged. The match schedule has been finalised and published, and the ICC expects all participating teams to meet their obligations under the Terms of Participation. The ICC will continue to engage with all stakeholders transparently, professionally, and collaboratively to ensure the safety, security, and integrity of the tournament. The T20 World Cup will start on February 7. Bangladesh is scheduled to open its T20 World Cup 2026 campaign on February 7 against two-time champions West Indies at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. After the West Indies, Bangladesh will face Italy on February 9 at the same venue, then the 2022 T20 World Cup champions, England, in Kolkata, and will conclude their group-stage campaign with a match against Nepal on February 17.