With just over three weeks remaining before the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup begins, uncertainty continues to surround the venues for Bangladesh’s scheduled matches. The International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) remain at odds, with no final decision yet on whether Bangladesh will play their fixtures in India.
Bangladesh have twice written formally to the ICC requesting that all of their World Cup matches be shifted to Sri Lanka, the tournament’s co-host, citing player security concerns amid recent political tensions between India and Bangladesh. The issue gained further momentum after fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was released by IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders, a development that the BCB believes heightened safety concerns over travelling to India.
While Sri Lanka remains Bangladesh’s preferred option, Cricbuzz reports that the ICC is instead exploring alternative venues within India. According to Cricbuzz, the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) and the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) have been sounded out by the ICC and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), with Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram emerging as possible hosts for Bangladesh’s matches.
Chepauk Stadium in Chennai is already scheduled to host seven World Cup games, including a potential Super Eight fixture, and TNCA officials are believed to have indicated that accommodating additional matches would not be an issue due to the availability of multiple pitches. Thiruvananthapuram has also been identified as a viable alternative venue.
Under the existing schedule, Bangladesh are due to play West Indies on 7 February, Italy on 9 February and England on 14 February in Kolkata, before facing Nepal in Mumbai on 17 February. Any venue change at this stage presents logistical challenges, and the ICC has yet to issue a formal response to the BCB’s request. A decision is expected soon, potentially on 12 January, although indications suggest that relocating the matches to Sri Lanka remains unlikely.
As background to the situation, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has also expressed interest in hosting Bangladesh’s World Cup fixtures if required. PCB officials have said Pakistan’s venues are ready and experienced, citing the successful hosting of recent ICC tournaments, though this option remains exploratory with no indication yet from the ICC of a shift outside the existing host nations.
