The International Cricket Council is open to relocating Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup matches from India, Cricbuzz reported on January 4, hours after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) formally requested a change of venue citing security concerns.
The development follows the controversy surrounding Mustafizur Rahman’s exit from the Indian Premier League. After the incident, the BCB wrote to the ICC requesting that their matches be moved to Sri Lanka, the co-host of the T20 World Cup. While no final decision has been made, the ICC is understood to be considering the request, with player safety a key factor in its deliberations.
Earlier on Saturday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India ordered IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur, who was bought in an auction for Rs 9.20 crore. The move came amid protests by right-wing groups in India who criticized the BCCI for allowing a Bangladeshi cricketer to play in the IPL at a time when attacks on Hindu minorities were reported in Bangladesh.
The decision drew sharp criticism from the BCB and prompted intervention from the Bangladeshi government. After Mustafizur’s release, the caretaker government directed the BCB to take up the matter with the ICC and seek to shift the World Cup matches from India.
In a strong statement, Bangladesh Sports Advisor Asif Nazrul said the country would not accept what he described as humiliation of Bangladesh and its cricketers. He also said that the government is considering stopping the telecast of IPL matches in Bangladesh.
“Board of Indian cricket, bowing down to extremist communal forces, has ordered Kolkata Knight Riders to drop Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman from the team. I strongly condemn and protest,” Nazrul wrote on Facebook.
“As the minister responsible for sports, I have instructed the cricket board to write to the ICC and explain the matter. The board must make it clear that if a Bangladeshi cricketer cannot play in India despite having a valid contract, then Bangladesh cannot consider it safe for their entire team to travel to India for the World Cup,” he added.
Nazrul further said that he directed the BCB to formally request to host Bangladesh’s World Cup matches in Sri Lanka and asked the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to look into the halting of the IPL telecast in the country.
“Under no circumstances will we accept demeaning Bangladesh, Bangladeshi cricket or Bangladeshi cricketers,” he said.
BCB sent a formal letter on Sunday afternoon, January 4. The ICC is expected to be prompt in its response. In case they accept BCB’s request, Pakistan and Bangladesh will play all their T20 World Cup matches in Sri Lanka.
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Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
January 4, 2026
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