Bangladesh Cricket Board Seeks Venue Change for T20 World Cup Matches
BCB Requests ICC to Move Matches to Sri Lanka
On Saturday, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) formally requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to switch its national team with Ireland in Group C for the upcoming T20 World Cup, aiming to play in Sri Lanka instead of India.
Currently, Bangladesh is grouped with the West Indies, Italy, England, and Nepal, with matches slated to take place in Kolkata and Mumbai.
Ireland, on the other hand, is positioned in Group B alongside Sri Lanka, Australia, Oman, and Zimbabwe, with their games scheduled in Colombo and Pallekele.
An ICC delegation, comprising Gaurav Saxena, General Manager of Events and Corporate Communications, and Andrew Ephgrave, General Manager of the Integrity Unit, visited Dhaka to discuss security measures in India and to encourage adherence to the original match schedule.
Following the meeting, the BCB issued a statement confirming their discussions regarding Bangladesh's participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Ephgrave was present at the meeting, while Saxena joined remotely due to visa issues.
During the talks, the BCB reiterated its request for relocating Bangladesh's matches to Sri Lanka, emphasizing concerns from the Bangladesh Government regarding the safety of players, fans, media, and other stakeholders.
Key figures from the BCB, including president Mohammad Aminul Islam, vice presidents Md Shakawath Hossain and Faruque Ahmed, Director Nazmul Abedeen, and CEO Nizam Uddin Chowdhury, participated in the discussions.
However, reports suggest that the ICC is hesitant to accommodate Bangladesh's request, citing logistical challenges and the complexities of altering the tournament schedule at this stage.
The BCB's demand for a venue change stems from perceived security risks for its players, particularly after pacer Mustafizur Rahman was unexpectedly removed from his IPL contract with the Kolkata Knight Riders following a directive from the BCCI.
The BCB has indicated that further discussions will take place to reach a satisfactory resolution.
The dialogue was described as constructive and professional, with all parties openly addressing the pertinent issues.
Among the topics discussed was the potential for moving Bangladesh to a different group to facilitate the situation with minimal logistical changes. Both the BCB and ICC have committed to ongoing constructive discussions regarding this matter.