ICC rejects BCB’s request to shift WC matches outside India: Report

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reportedly rejected Bangladesh’s request to shift their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 matches away from India.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), in a letter dated Sunday (January 4), formally requested the ICC to relocate their Group C matches due to security concerns. However, according to ESPNCricinfo on Tuesday (January 6), the ICC has declined the request.

As per the report, during a virtual call on Tuesday, the ICC informed the BCB that their request to play T20 World Cup 2026 matches outside India has been rejected. ESPNCricinfo further reported that the ICC told the BCB, “Bangladesh will need to travel to India to play the T20 World Cup or risk forfeiting points.”

However, the same report noted that the BCB denied receiving any such ultimatum from the governing body.

Bangladesh are scheduled to play all four of their Group C matches in India. Their first three group matches—against West Indies (February 7), Italy (February 9), and Italy again (February 14)—will be held at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. For their fourth and final group match against Nepal on February 17, they are scheduled to travel to Mumbai.

Bangladesh’s request to move their T20 World Cup 2026 matches came a day after the BCCI instructed Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladeshi left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad.