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Bangladesh cricket team (Source:@cricbuzz,x.com)
The growing tension between India and Bangladesh has started to deeply affect cricket, especially the future of Bangladesh’s participation in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
What began as a diplomatic issue has now turned into a significant crisis, leaving Bangladeshi cricketers, support staff, journalists, and fans anxious and uncertain about what lies ahead.
At the centre of the controversy is Bangladesh's strong demand to shift its T20 World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka.
The BCB has officially written to the ICC, stating serious security concerns for its players and team officials if they are required to travel to India.
If the ICC fails to address these concerns, Bangladesh has warned it may withdraw from the tournament entirely.
What is wrong with BCCI and BCB?
The situation escalated after the BCCI cancelled the IPL contract of Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman. KKR picked the left-arm pacer for INR 9.20 crore during the IPL auction held in Abu Dhabi.
However, amid worsening diplomatic relations between the two neighbouring countries, the BCCI reportedly instructed KKR to release the Bangladeshi bowler.
KKR complied with the directive and officially removed the pacer from their squad. This decision triggered an immediate and strong reaction from the BCB.
Soon after, the board called an emergency meeting and issued a statement confirming that it had formally approached the ICC to request a venue change for Bangladesh’s World Cup matches.
Bangladesh’s sports ministry adviser, Asif Nazrul, has openly supported the BCB’s stance. He stated that Bangladesh would not participate in the World Cup at the cost of national self-respect or the safety of its cricketers.
BCB–India standoff worries players and support staff
According to the latest report from Cricbuzz, Journalists continue to gather at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium daily, hoping for updates on discussions about the tense matter going on between BCCI, BCB and ICC.
The anxiety among players has grown further after reports (Cricbuzz) emerged that Indian sports equipment manufacturer Sanspareils Greenlands (SG) has ended sponsorship deals with several Bangladeshi cricketers, including Litton Das.
While no official confirmation has been given, the news has added to the players' worries.
“I haven’t heard anything officially,” a cricketer sponsored by SG told Cricbuzz.
A senior BCB official admitted that the cricketers are going through a challenging phase and are regularly contacting him for the latest updates on the board's stance.
"I think it's a very difficult time for the cricketers considering they are not sure what is in store for them in the coming days," the BCB official said, on request not to be named.
"They are quite tense and it is understandable," he said.
BCB sends another letter to ICC
According to the latest development, another BCB official, the board has already sent a second letter to the ICC and is now waiting for a response. However, the delay is proving hard to bear for players and fans, as the T20 World Cup is less than a month away.
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