Desk Correspondent , Dhaka - The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has been directed by the country’s interim government to formally request the International Cricket Council (ICC) to move its T20 World Cup 2026 league matches from India to Sri Lanka. This decision follows the controversial exit of Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL, after the BCCI reportedly instructed the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release him. Bangladesh’s sports adviser, Asif Nazrul, stated that if a single player is not considered safe to play in India despite a valid contract, the government cannot guarantee the safety of the entire national team for a major tournament.

The request focuses on Bangladesh’s four scheduled group matches, including three in Kolkata and one in Mumbai. Nazrul expressed strong condemnation of the BCCI's move, labeling it a result of "extremist communal forces" and a humiliation to Bangladeshi cricket. In a bold social media post, he mentioned that the "days of slavery are over" and hinted at stopping the broadcast of IPL matches in Bangladesh as a mark of protest. The BCB is now expected to submit a formal security review request to the ICC, proposing Sri Lanka, a co-host of the tournament as the alternative venue for their fixtures.

In response, BCCI sources have described the proposed shift as a "logistical nightmare." With the tournament set to begin on February 7, 2026, Indian officials argue that changing venues at such a late stage is nearly impossible due to pre-booked flights, hotels, and broadcast arrangements for all competing teams. The 20-team World Cup is already a complex operation, and shifting matches on short notice would affect the entire schedule. As the diplomatic and cricketing ties between the two nations continue to face strain, the ICC will now have the difficult task of reviewing the security concerns while maintaining the tournament’s integrity.