"It's not our domain to talk about that"
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has finally addressed Bangladesh’s recent request to move its T20 World Cup matches out of India.
It urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to consider relocating the fixtures to Sri Lanka.
Tensions have escalated after the BCCI directed three-time Indian Premier League champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their squad amid national sensitivities.
The move came following the killing of several Hindus in Bangladesh over the past few days, which strained India-Bangladesh relations.
KKR faced heavy criticism for retaining Rahman, who they had picked for Rs. 9.2 crore during the Abu Dhabi auction.
In response, the BCCI intervened, asking the franchise to release the bowler.
Since Rahman’s release, the Bangladesh government and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have formally requested the ICC to move their team’s T20 World Cup matches out of India due to security concerns.
While the ICC and BCB continue to correspond, no final decision has been made, with the tournament set to start on February 7, 2026.
Amid the ongoing discussions, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia clarified the Indian board’s stance.
Saikia said: “The meeting was about CoE and other cricketing matters.
“It’s not our domain to talk about that (as the ICC has the final say on Bangladesh’s participation in the T20 World Cup).”
The T20 World Cup 2026 is scheduled across eight venues in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.
Bangladesh are in Group C alongside England, the West Indies, Nepal and Italy.
Their first three matches against the West Indies, along with games against England and Italy, are slated for Eden Gardens in Kolkata, while their match against Nepal will take place at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
Earlier this week, the BCB issued a statement noting that the ICC, led by Jay Shah, had assured them of its support.
In its statement, the BCB said: “In its communication, the ICC has reiterated its commitment to ensuring the full and uninterrupted participation of the Bangladesh team in the tournament.
“The ICC has conveyed its willingness to work closely with the BCB to address the concerns raised and has assured that the Board’s inputs will be welcomed and duly considered as part of the detailed security planning for the event.”
Loading ...