The International Cricket Council has rejected Bangladesh’s request to shift its matches away from India for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, citing the absence of any credible security threat.
After reviewing available intelligence, the ICC has concluded there are no actionable inputs that warrant a change in venues.
The matter was discussed during an online meeting between ICC officials and representatives of the Bangladesh Cricket Board earlier this week.
According to sources familiar with the discussions, the global body informed the BCB that current assessments do not indicate any specific risk to the Bangladesh team while playing in India, and therefore the existing schedule will remain unchanged for now.
Bangladesh are set to play three Group C matches in Kolkata against the West Indies, Italy, and England before facing Nepal in Mumbai. A formal written response from the ICC is expected in the coming days, though there are no immediate indications of a reversal.
The BCB’s concerns emerged following a series of off-field developments, including the release of Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL, which strained relations between the boards.
While reports have suggested Bangladesh were warned about forfeiting points if they refused to travel, the BCB has denied receiving any such ultimatum.
With the tournament beginning on February 7, the ICC has reiterated its position: from a security standpoint, it is business as usual.