Bangladesh Cricket Board Seeks Venue Change for T20 World Cup Matches

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is in discussions with the ICC regarding the relocation of its matches in the upcoming T20 World Cup due to safety concerns. The BCB has formally requested that its games be moved to Sri Lanka, emphasizing the need for security for players and fans. The ICC has acknowledged the BCB's concerns and is engaging in ongoing dialogue. This comes amid strained relations between India and Bangladesh over recent incidents of violence. The ICC's risk assessments indicate that the security situation for the tournament in India is manageable. Read on for more details about this developing story.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 18, 2026, 01:59 IST

BCB and ICC Discuss Venue Concerns for T20 World Cup

Dhaka [Bangladesh], January 17: A meeting took place on Saturday between the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) to address BCB's request for relocating the team's matches in the 2026 T20 World Cup to venues outside of India. Both parties expressed a commitment to maintain constructive discussions regarding this issue.

The T20 World Cup is set to commence on February 7, with matches scheduled to be held in India and Sri Lanka.

During the meeting, the BCB representatives discussed various aspects of Bangladesh's involvement in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, including the potential for the team to be placed in a different group.

According to a press release from the BCB, they reiterated their formal request to the ICC to shift Bangladesh's matches to Sri Lanka. The Board also conveyed the concerns of the Bangladeshi Government regarding the safety and security of players, fans, media, and other stakeholders.

The discussions were described as constructive and professional, with all parties engaging openly on the relevant topics.

Among the points discussed was the possibility of moving Bangladesh to a different group to facilitate the matter with minimal logistical changes.

The ICC delegation included Gaurav Saxena, General Manager of Events and Corporate Communications, and Andrew Ephgrave, General Manager of the Integrity Unit. Gaurav Saxena participated virtually due to visa delays, while Andrew Ephgrave attended in person.

From the BCB, President Md Aminul Islam, Vice Presidents Md Shakawath Hossain and Faruque Ahmed, Director and Chairman of the Cricket Operations Committee Nazmul Abedeen, and Chief Executive Officer Nizam Uddin Chowdhury were present.

Both the BCB and ICC agreed to continue their constructive dialogue on this matter.

Relations between India and Bangladesh have been strained due to incidents of violence against minorities in Bangladesh. The BCB had previously urged the ICC to consider relocating its matches outside India, citing safety and security concerns for players.

This request followed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) asking Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release pacer Mustafizur from their IPL 2026 squad amid concerns regarding ongoing atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh.

ICC sources indicated that independent risk assessments conducted by recognized security experts did not find that Bangladesh could not 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, consistent with many major global sporting events.

These assessments did not identify any specific threats to the Bangladesh team, its officials, or the match venues in India.

Based on professional advice, the risks associated with Bangladesh's fixtures in Kolkata and Mumbai are considered low to moderate, with no unmanageable risks identified through established security planning and mitigation measures.

ICC is aware of recent public comments regarding Bangladesh's participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, including selective references to the ICC's security risk assessment.