The upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, has been embroiled in controversy following security concerns raised by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) regarding playing their matches in India. In a surprising turn of events, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has backed Bangladesh's stance, even offering to host Bangladesh's matches in Pakistan. However, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has upheld the original schedule, insisting that Bangladesh's matches will proceed as planned in India.

Bangladesh's concerns reportedly stem from "recent developments," including the BCCI's instruction to Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur Rahman. This led to the Bangladesh government banning the broadcast of the IPL. The BCB then formally communicated to the ICC its decision not to play World Cup matches in India, citing security concerns. They requested the ICC to shift their matches to Sri Lanka, the co-host of the tournament. Bangladesh are scheduled to play their first three group matches in Kolkata against West Indies, Italy and England, and their final match against Nepal in Mumbai.

The PCB's support for Bangladesh's position is rooted in a sense of principle. According to sources, Pakistan believes that Bangladesh's concerns are justified, drawing parallels with instances where Pakistan's matches were moved to neutral venues due to India's insistence. The PCB formally communicated its support to the ICC, even offering to host all of Bangladesh's T20 World Cup matches.

Despite Pakistan's backing, the ICC has remained firm, stating that it is not feasible to alter the schedule so close to the tournament. The ICC also stated that changing the schedule without credible security threats could set a bad precedent. The ICC insists that independent security assessments have found no verifiable threat to the safety of the Bangladesh team in India. The ICC has given BCB time to decide whether to travel to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup.

Amidst these developments, reports emerged that Pakistan might consider boycotting the T20 World Cup if Bangladesh withdraws. However, sources within the PCB have clarified that withdrawing from the tournament is not an option under consideration. PCB officials understand that they do not have a valid reason to boycott the event, as Pakistan is already scheduled to play its matches at a neutral venue in Sri Lanka. Neutral venue arrangements were confirmed by the ICC following an agreement between the BCCI and PCB in December 2024, where matches involving India and Pakistan at ICC events hosted by either country would be played at a neutral venue.

The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 is scheduled to take place from February 7 to March 8, 2026, with 20 teams competing in 55 matches across five venues in India and three in Sri Lanka. The squads are allowed to make changes until January 31, 2026. The controversy surrounding Bangladesh's participation has added a layer of complexity to the tournament, but the ICC is determined to proceed as scheduled.