ICC Tells BCB: Play T20 World Cup Matches in India or Risk Losing Points

Dhaka, Jan 7, 2026 — The International Cricket Council (ICC) has informed the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) that Bangladesh must play its matches in India during the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup or face potential loss of tournament points, according to a report by ESPNcricinfo.
The warning came during a virtual meeting held on Tuesday between ICC officials and BCB representatives, following Bangladesh’s refusal to send its team to India citing security concerns. Sources familiar with the discussion said the ICC made it clear that relocating Bangladesh’s matches outside India on security grounds would not be possible.
However, the BCB has maintained that it has not received any formal or final decision from the ICC regarding point deductions or mandatory participation in India.
Neither the ICC nor the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has issued an official statement since the meeting.
The development follows a letter sent by the BCB to the ICC on Sunday, formally requesting that Bangladesh’s World Cup matches be moved out of India. The ICC convened the meeting shortly after receiving the request.
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is scheduled to be held jointly in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, 2026. Bangladesh have been placed in Group C and are set to play their first three matches in Kolkata — against West Indies (Feb 7), Italy (Feb 9), and England (Feb 14). Their final group-stage match is scheduled for February 17 in Mumbai against Nepal.
The BCB’s concerns intensified following a controversial decision by the BCCI instructing IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to exclude Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their squad. KKR had purchased Mustafizur for ₹9.2 crore at the IPL auction held last December.
The decision has further strained cricketing relations between the two boards, adding a political and security dimension to Bangladesh’s participation in the tournament.
For now, the ICC awaits Bangladesh’s final position as the countdown to the T20 World Cup continues.