ICC faces pressure as Bangladesh sticks to India boycott for T20 World Cup

ICC faces pressure as Bangladesh sticks to India boycott for T20 World Cup

Bangladesh tells ICC it will not travel to India for T20 World Cup. File photo

January, 13 2026

(Web Desk): Bangladesh has told the ICC it will not travel to India for the T20 World Cup, repeating security concerns and asking for matches to be shifted elsewhere.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board said it again refused to play in India during talks with the International Cricket Council (ICC). The issue was discussed in a video conference, but the board did not change its position.

Earlier, Bangladesh announced it would not play its T20 World Cup matches in India after Mustafizur Rahman was released by his IPL team. This decision came as tensions between the two countries increased. Bangladesh later “formally requested” the ICC to move its matches to Sri Lanka.

The World Cup is set to begin on February 7, and Bangladesh are scheduled to play four group matches in India. However, the BCB said it had “reiterated its request for the ICC to consider relocating Bangladesh’s matches outside India”.

“The BCB reaffirmed its position regarding the decision not to travel to India, citing security concerns,” the board said. It added, “While the ICC highlighted that the tournament itinerary has already been announced and requested the BCB to reconsider its stance, the Board’s position remains unchanged.”

The ICC has not issued any comment so far. The BCB said talks are still ongoing to “explore possible solutions” and stressed it “remains committed to safeguarding the well-being of its players, officials and staff”.

Bangladesh, led by Litton Das, are ranked ninth in ICC T20 rankings. They have played all nine editions of the tournament but have never reached the semi-finals.

Political relations between India and Bangladesh worsened after a mass uprising in Dhaka in 2024 that removed former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. India later condemned what it called “unremitting hostility against minorities” in Bangladesh, while interim leader Muhammad Yunus accused India of exaggerating the violence.

Bangladesh is taking a firm stand and not backing down easily. Security concerns seem to outweigh tournament pressure. The ICC now faces a difficult decision before the World Cup starts.