Bangladesh Cricket Team, Jay Shah for ICC. Image Credits: X
The intensified geopolitical tensions between India and Bangladesh in recent months have seen some interesting developments around the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026, which is set to be played in India and Sri Lanka after Bangladesh asked the ICC to move all of their matches to Sri Lanka after they were scheduled to play all four of their group stage matches in India.
However, to BCB's dismay, the varying reports suggest that the ICC has rejected this request from the board and asked them to stick to their original schedule and play in India or lose points by forfeiting the matches.
ICC's ultimatum to Bangladesh
As revealed by ESPNcricinfo, ICC has sent a clear message to the Bangladesh board that they are not willing to make any changes to the schedule released months ahead of the competition, where Bangladesh faces West Indies (Feb 7), Italy (Feb 9) and England (Feb 14) at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata in their Group C matches before heading to Mumbai for the Nepal clash on February 17.
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According to the same report, ICC has also told Bangladesh that they will need to travel to India for the competition or forfeit matches and get knocked out of the 20-team tournament.
Why did BCB request to shift their T20 World Cup 2026 matches?
Bangladesh's request to ICC to change the venues of their matches came after their player Mustafizur Rahman, who was picked by Kolkata Knight Riders for a whopping 9.2 crores was asked to be released from the squad by the BCCI weeks after the auction due to the outrage from the fans after the attack on minorities of Bangladesh.
Following the release, the Bangaldeshi pacer has notably registered for the Pakistan Super League draft ahead of the season 11, which will be played in the same window as IPL.
The left-arm pacer has previously also played for five IPL franchises from 2016 to 2025, representing Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals, picking 65 wickets in 60 outings, with best figures of 4/29.
Added tensions between Bangladesh and India
Following the situation regarding the release of 30-year-old pacer, Bangaldesh Cricket Board has also reportedly asked ICC Elite Panel umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid Saikat to not travel to India for the T20 World Cup to be played in February and March, citing security reasons.
In addition to this, Bangladesh also unilaterally announced India's tour to the neigbouring country in the midst of all the chaos around the two countries. According to the released calendar, India will travel to Bangaldesh in August and September 2026 for three ODIs.
However, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has cryptically showed BCCI's unwillingness to tour Bangladesh in 2026, just like they did not do it in 2025, despite the itenerary was announced by BCB.
With a month to go for the T20 WC, it remains to be seen whether Bangladesh retaliates ICC's decision or travel to India for the competition as planned.
