The International Cricket Council (ICC) is assessing a range of possible outcomes after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) formally requested that Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup 2026 matches be moved out of India, citing security concerns. While no official decision has been taken, various reports suggest the world body has begun internal discussions and contingency planning amid growing uncertainty.
Bangladesh wrote to the ICC on Sunday, asking that their fixtures be relocated to co-host Sri Lanka. The ICC, chaired by Jay Shah, has not publicly confirmed that a revised schedule is being prepared, but is understood to be exploring alternatives should the situation escalate. No formal ICC meeting has yet taken place, and any announcement is unlikely to be immediate.
Option one: keeping the existing schedule
Under the current fixture list, Bangladesh are placed in Group C and are scheduled to play all four group-stage matches in India, three at Eden Gardens in Kolkata and one at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai against England, West Indies, Italy and Nepal.
Retaining the existing schedule would be the simplest option from a logistical standpoint, particularly with just over 30 days remaining before the tournament begins. However, the BCB has already made clear that it is unwilling to travel to India under the present circumstances, a stance that has complicated this scenario.
Option two: moving matches to Sri Lanka
Relocating Bangladesh’s matches to Sri Lanka, the tournament’s co-host, is believed to be the most realistic alternative under consideration. Sources cited by Cricbuzz say the ICC is not averse to this idea, but acknowledge that it would create significant logistical challenges.
Any change to the group-stage fixtures would not be limited to that phase alone. If Bangladesh progress to the Super Eight or beyond, as they did in the previous edition, further alterations would be required, potentially forcing a restructuring of the tournament. Such changes could disrupt travel plans and ticket arrangements for spectators.
Option three: wider schedule reshuffle
With the World Cup spread across eight venues in India and Sri Lanka, such a reschuffle would require cooperation from several boards and swift coordination, something that becomes increasingly difficult this close to the start of the event.
As co-host, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to play a central role in any decision. The BCCI typically consults the Indian central government on major issues, meaning the political dimension could also influence the final outcome.
Option four: a walkover scenario
If the ICC decides not to reschedule Bangladesh’s fixtures and the BCB maintains its position, a walkover scenario cannot be ruled out. In such a case, Bangladesh could forfeit matches scheduled in India, an outcome that would carry serious sporting and commercial consequences and is widely viewed as a last resort.
Background to the standoff
The situation escalated after the BCCI instructed IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman, citing the “recent situation”. Although no detailed explanation was provided, the move prompted the BCB to call an emergency meeting and formally raise its concerns with the ICC.
The wider fallout has also extended beyond the World Cup. Bangladesh’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has ordered all domestic broadcasters to suspend coverage of the Indian Premier League following Mustafizur Rahman’s removal from Kolkata Knight Riders. The directive, issued in the public interest, cited the absence of any “reasonable justification” for the decision and said it had caused widespread anger in Bangladesh. The suspension, which applies to all IPL matches and related programming, remains in effect until further notice, further underlining how the Mustafizur episode has intensified tensions between the two boards.
Some within the ICC reportedly view the matter as a bilateral issue between the BCB and the BCCI, similar to past India–Pakistan disputes that have forced late changes and neutral venues at global events. Nevertheless, the ICC is expected to take time, weigh all practical constraints and communicate its position to the BCB in the coming days.
