Bangladesh has announced that its cricket team will not travel to India for the T20 World Cup 2026 due to security concerns, officials confirmed on Sunday.
Dr. Asif Nazrul Islam, Bangladesh’s sports adviser, stated that there is no justification for sending the team to India, citing apparent failures in ensuring player safety. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has been instructed to request moving the team’s league matches from India to Sri Lanka.
The decision follows tensions between the two cricket boards after Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was released from the Indian Premier League (IPL), raising concerns over player security.
Bangladesh’s first T20 World Cup match is scheduled for February 7 against West Indies, followed by matches against Italy on February 9, England on February 14, and Nepal on February 17. The initial three matches were set to be played in Kolkata, while the fourth match was scheduled in Mumbai.
This move mirrors previous incidents, such as India’s refusal to allow Pakistan to host matches during the Champions Trophy, which led to neutral venues for bilateral contests. Under that arrangement, Pakistan will play its World Cup matches in Sri Lanka.
