Bangladesh will have to play their World Cup matches in India; ICC rejects request to change venues

January 7, 2026

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rejected the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) request to change the venue for their T20 World Cup matches. The ICC has made it clear that Bangladesh will have to play all its league matches in India; failing to do so, it will forfeit its points.

The BCB had refused to play its T20 World Cup matches in India, citing security concerns after Mustafizur Rahman was dropped from the IPL, and appealed to the ICC to shift their matches to Sri Lanka.

According to a report by news agency ANI, ICC Chairman Jay Shah and some other officials were present in Mumbai on Tuesday. They first held discussions with officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and then spoke with the Bangladesh Cricket Board.

The ICC clearly stated that there would be no change in the venue and Bangladesh would have to play its World Cup matches in India; otherwise, it would lose points.

What is the whole controversy?
On December 16, in the IPL mini-auction, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) bought Bangladeshi bowler Mustafizur Rahman for Rs 9.20 crore. Following this, protests against Mustafizur began in India due to the killing of Hindus in Bangladesh. So far, six Hindus have been murdered there. Later, the BCCI did not grant Mustafizur permission to play in the IPL, and on January 3, KKR released him.

Bangladesh bans IPL broadcast

After Mustafizur was released by KKR, the Bangladesh Cricket Board and the government there banned the broadcast of the IPL. They also refused to play World Cup matches in India and sent an email to the ICC requesting a change of venue.