Bangladesh’s cricket board confirmed on Tuesday that it has repeated its refusal to travel to India for next month’s T20 World Cup during talks with the ICC governing body, maintaining its demand for relocation over security concerns.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) wants the International Cricket Council to shift their World Cup games from India to co-hosts Sri Lanka, citing fears for player safety amid deteriorating political relations between the two neighbouring countries. The World Cup begins on 7 February, and Bangladesh are scheduled to play their four group matches in India.
During a video conference with the ICC on Tuesday, the BCB said it had “reiterated its request for the ICC to consider relocating Bangladesh’s matches outside India”. The statement added that “the BCB reaffirmed its position regarding the decision not to travel to India, citing security concerns”.
The ICC highlighted that the tournament itinerary has already been announced and requested the BCB to reconsider its stance, but the Board’s position remains unchanged. The governing body has not issued a public comment on the dispute.
The row erupted on 3 January when India forced Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman to quit the Indian Premier League. Mustafizur, who has played in the IPL for other teams in previous editions, was snapped up at auction in December by Kolkata for more than $1 million. His sacking sparked fury in Dhaka and triggered the current stand-off.
Political relations between India and Bangladesh soured dramatically after a mass uprising in Dhaka in 2024 toppled then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina, a close ally of New Delhi. India’s foreign ministry condemned last month what it called “unremitting hostility against minorities” in Muslim-majority Bangladesh. Bangladesh’s interim leader, Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, has accused India of exaggerating the scale of the violence.
The BCB said discussions with the ICC continue to “explore possible solutions”, but stressed that it “remains committed to safeguarding the well-being of its players, officials and staff”. The board has given no indication it will back down from its position despite the tournament’s imminent start date.
Bangladesh, led by Litton Das, are placed ninth in the ICC T20 rankings. They have played all nine editions of the tournament but have never qualified for the semi-finals. The current controversy threatens to derail their participation in yet another World Cup, though whether through relocation or withdrawal remains unclear as the diplomatic impasse continues.
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