Historical Instances of Teams Refusing to Play in ICC Tournaments Due to Security Concerns

Introduction to Venue Refusals in Cricket

The ongoing situation surrounding Mustafizur Rahman's IPL 2026 release has sparked tensions. The ICC has yet to fully reject Bangladesh's request for a venue shift, but historical patterns suggest that such requests are often denied, leading teams to forfeit points.

Notable Instances of Venue Refusals

Cricket has seen several instances where teams have declined to play at certain venues due to security or political issues. Here are six significant cases since 1996:

1. Australia and West Indies (1996 ODI World Cup – Match in Sri Lanka)

Before the 1996 World Cup, a major bombing occurred in Colombo, resulting in 91 fatalities. Due to safety concerns, both Australia and West Indies opted out of their group match against Sri Lanka. The ICC did not change the venue, leading to both teams forfeiting the match, allowing Sri Lanka to advance easily to the quarter-finals and ultimately win the championship.

2. England (2003 ODI World Cup – Match in Zimbabwe)

During the 2003 World Cup, England refused to play against Zimbabwe in Harare, citing political opposition to Robert Mugabe's regime, human rights violations, and threats to their safety. The ICC did not alter the match location, resulting in Zimbabwe receiving four points, which led to England's early exit from the tournament.

3. New Zealand (2003 ODI World Cup – Match in Kenya)

In the same World Cup, New Zealand declined to play against Kenya in Nairobi due to security threats following a bombing in Mombasa that killed 16 people. The ICC maintained the venue, granting Kenya a walkover, which allowed them to reach the semi-finals for the first time as a non-Test playing nation.

4. Australia (2016 U-19 World Cup – Bangladesh)

Australia refused to travel to Bangladesh for the 2016 U-19 World Cup, citing ongoing security risks after canceling a previous tour in 2015. The ICC respected their decision but expressed disappointment, and Ireland was brought in as a replacement.

5. India (2025 Champions Trophy – Pakistan)

In the 2025 Champions Trophy, India opted out of playing in Pakistan due to security concerns and lack of government clearance. The ICC implemented a hybrid model, with India's matches held at a neutral venue in Dubai, marking the first ICC tournament where India and Pakistan faced off at a neutral site.

6. Zimbabwe (2009 T20 World Cup – England)

Zimbabwe chose to withdraw from the 2009 T20 World Cup after the UK government denied visas to their players due to political tensions. Scotland took their place in the tournament.

Conclusion

These examples illustrate that the ICC typically avoids changing venues unless there is a clear and substantiated threat. In most cases, teams end up forfeiting matches or losing points, which can sometimes alter the outcomes of tournaments, as seen with Kenya's semi-final appearance.