A top official from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has responded to Bangladesh's request to move its T20 World Cup matches out of India, calling the demand a "logistical nightmare". This comes amidst rising tensions between the cricket boards of the two nations, sparked by the controversy surrounding Mustafizur Rahman's release from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The 20-team T20 World Cup is scheduled to be held in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8. Bangladesh is placed in Group A along with England, Italy, Nepal, and the West Indies. Bangladesh's matches are currently scheduled to be held in Kolkata and Mumbai.
According to reports, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is considering writing to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to request a review of security arrangements in India and a possible change of venue. This request follows the recent release of Mustafizur Rahman from the KKR squad. The franchise released Rahman following a directive from the BCCI. The BCB then held an emergency meeting where they were instructed by Bangladesh's Ministry of Sports to formally raise concerns with the ICC.
Reacting to these reports, a senior BCCI source stated that changing the venues at this stage would be highly impractical. "You can't just change games at someone's whim. It is a logistical nightmare," the source told news agency PTI. The official further explained the complexities involved, stating that "Opposition teams' flights and hotels are already booked". He also noted the intricacies of scheduling, with three games planned each matchday, including one in Sri Lanka, plus the involvement of broadcast and operational teams. "Broadcast crews and operational teams are also involved, so it is easier said than done".
The situation escalated after KKR released Mustafizur Rahman, who had been acquired for ₹9.20 crore, ahead of the 2026 season. This decision occurred amidst growing political and diplomatic tensions between India and Bangladesh.
Bangladesh's scheduled matches in the T20 World Cup are against the West Indies (February 7), Italy (February 9), and England (February 14) in Kolkata, and against Nepal (February 17) in Mumbai.
According to NDTV sources, the ICC has rejected Bangladesh's request to move its T20 World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka. Following the announcement by KKR that they had removed Rahman from their IPL 2026 roster, the BCB held an emergency meeting. The board expressed deep concern over the circumstances surrounding the participation of the Bangladesh National Team in matches scheduled to be played in India. The BCB further stated that the Bangladesh National Team would not travel to India for the tournament under the current conditions.
