The decision threatens disruption to the tournament
Bangladesh will not travel to India for the 2026 T20 World Cup “under the current conditions” and have requested their matches be moved, the country’s cricket board said.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said it has formally asked the International Cricket Council to relocate all of the team’s fixtures.
Bangladesh bowler Mustafizur Rahman was released by his Indian Premier League side at the request of the Indian board amid rising tensions.
That decision triggered an emergency meeting of the BCB, which cited safety concerns for players and officials.
A statement read: “The board believes that such a step is necessary to safeguard the safety and well-being of Bangladeshi players, team officials, board members and other stakeholders and to ensure that the team can participate in the tournament in a secure and appropriate environment.”
The decision threatens disruption to the tournament, which begins on February 7 and has already been impacted by regional political tensions.
Bangladesh is scheduled to play all four group matches in India, including the opener against West Indies.
They are also due to face England in Kolkata on February 14.
The tournament is being co-hosted by Sri Lanka, where all of Pakistan’s matches will be played because of tensions with India.
Relations between Bangladesh and India worsened following the killing of a Hindu man during violent protests in Bangladesh.
The man was accused of blasphemy and beaten to death by a mob in Muslim-majority Bangladesh. The incident sparked protests by Hindu nationalist groups in India.
Anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh has increased since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India in 2024.
India has refused to extradite her despite repeated requests from Bangladeshi authorities.
Unrest also followed the murder of Sharif Osman Hadi, a prominent student leader in Bangladesh.
Mustafizur was withdrawn from his IPL contract with Kolkata Knight Riders on January 3.
No formal reason was given by the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
However, Secretary Devajit Saikia referred to “recent developments”.
The BCB said: “The board reviewed the situation in detail, taking into account developments over the last 24 hours and expressed deep concern over the overall circumstances surrounding the participation of the Bangladesh in matches scheduled to be played in India.
“Following a thorough assessment of the prevailing situation and the growing concerns regarding the safety and security of the Bangladesh contingent in India… the board of directors resolved that the national team will not travel to India for the tournament under the current conditions.”
Bangladesh squad for T20 World Cup: Litton Das (captain), Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Nurul Hasan (wk), Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, Mohammad Saifuddin, Shoriful Islam.
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