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Bangladesh’s India boycott intensifies; BCB to not send umpires for T20 World Cup 2026

Aakash Saini

Bangladesh umpire Sharfuddoula [Source: @being_circuit3/x]Bangladesh umpire Sharfuddoula [Source: @being_circuit3/x]

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has now reportedly decided to not send umpires to India for next month’s 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup next month. The board’s move aligns with their earlier decision of shifting Bangladesh team’s share of T20 World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka.

In light of the prevailing geo-political tensions between the two countries, India and Bangladesh’s cricketing ties got caught in the crossfire after the BCCI instructed the KKR franchise to drop senior fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad. The move did not go down well with the BCB, who has now decided to completely boycott Indian cricket.

BCB prevents umpire travel citing ‘security concerns’ in India

Bangladesh umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid Saikat, also a part of the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires, will reportedly not be travelling to India next month for the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup. However, another report indicates that the fate of Sharfuddoula will be determined by the ICC, considering the 49-year-old is part of an Elite ICC panel.

Nonetheless, the BCB made the radical call shortly after the board refused to send the Bangladesh team to India, and urged the ICC to relocate their matches to Sri Lanka instead.

Bangladesh’s complete T20 World Cup boycott of India continues to deteriorate the cricketing ties between the two neighboring countries this week. A few days ago, the Bangladesh government also put a complete stop to the broadcasting of IPL matches in the country, making the call just ahead of the IPL 2026 season in India.

Despite Bangladesh’s strict stance, the ICC is yet to come with a revised T20 World Cup schedule. Moreover, the apex body will also be expected to make an announcement regarding the travelling fate of umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid Saikat in the coming days.