As the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) remain locked in discussions over Bangladesh’s participation in the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup in India, the standoff has revived memories of several ICC tournaments where teams refused to play in host countries.
Security threats, political pressure and government-imposed restrictions have, at different points, forced teams to boycott venues, forfeit matches or withdraw entirely. Here are the key precedents — in chronological order.
Australia’s 1996 Colombo boycott
Ahead of the 1996 ODI World Cup, Sri Lanka — one of the co-hosts — was in the middle of a civil war. A bomb explosion in Colombo in January, just weeks before the tournament, heightened security fears.
Australia refused to travel to Colombo for their group match against Sri Lanka, citing safety concerns. The ICC upheld the original schedule, forcing Australia to forfeit the match and concede points.
West Indies’ 1996 security stand
West Indies took a similar stance during the same tournament, also refusing to play Sri Lanka in Colombo.
Both teams advanced to the knockout stages despite the forfeits, while Sri Lanka went on to win the World Cup, beating Australia in the final in Lahore.
England’s 2003 political protest
The 2003 ODI World Cup — co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya — saw England decline to play Zimbabwe in Harare.
The decision was driven by opposition from the UK government, led by Tony Blair, to Robert Mugabe’s regime. England requested a venue change, but the ICC refused and awarded Zimbabwe a walkover.
England were later eliminated in the group stage.
New Zealand’s 2003 Kenya exit
New Zealand also refused to play a scheduled group match in the same tournament, opting not to travel to Nairobi to face Kenya on 21 February 2003.
The decision followed serious security concerns after a terrorist bombing in Mombasa months earlier. Despite New Zealand’s request to relocate the match, the ICC upheld the venue, awarding Kenya a walkover and four points.
Kenya went on to reach the semi-finals — their best-ever World Cup finish.
The Zimbabwe 2009 visa row
Political tensions resurfaced ahead of the 2009 T20 World Cup in England, with uncertainty over whether Zimbabwean players would receive visas to enter the UK.
In July 2008, Zimbabwe Cricket withdrew from the tournament after reaching an agreement with the ICC, describing the move as being “in the larger interest of the game”. Zimbabwe received their full participation fee, while Scotland replaced them in the competition.
Australia withdraw from 2016 U-19 WC
In October 2015, Australia cancelled a bilateral tour of Bangladesh due to security concerns. By the time the 2016 Under-19 World Cup came around, their position remained unchanged.
Citing continued threats to Australian interests, Cricket Australia pulled out of the tournament. The ICC said it respected the decision but expressed disappointment. Ireland replaced Australia in the event.
New Zealand’s U-19 2022 withdrawal
New Zealand withdrew from the 2022 Under-19 World Cup in the Caribbean on 18 November 2021, citing mandatory quarantine requirements for minors upon returning home.
The ICC confirmed that New Zealand were unable to participate due to restrictions that would have applied to under-18 players. Scotland replaced them in Group D, alongside West Indies, Australia and Sri Lanka.
It marked one of the rare occasions a team withdrew from an ICC event due to domestic public health regulations rather than security or political concerns.
2025 Champions Trophy: Hybrid model double standards
The most recent major precedent came during the 2025 Champions Trophy, originally set to be hosted entirely in Pakistan.
India refused to travel, citing lack of government clearance. After prolonged negotiations, the ICC introduced a hybrid model for the 2024–27 cycle, allowing India–Pakistan matches to be played at neutral venues.
India’s matches were staged in Dubai, where they went on to win the tournament — a compromise that has since become central to Bangladesh’s argument over the 2026 T20 World Cup.
2026 T20 World Cup: Bangladesh confirm withdrawal from India
Bangladesh have now joined this list after officially confirming they will not travel to India for the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup.
The decision was announced on 22 January 2026 following a high-level meeting in Dhaka involving government officials, BCB executives and senior players. Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul said the move was a direct government directive.
“The decision to not travel to India is a government one,” Nazrul said. “No one else has the authority to determine whether our citizens are safe abroad. That responsibility lies solely with the state.”
Bangladesh have maintained their stance since 4 January, citing security concerns amid rising political sensitivities. While ICC assessments found no verifiable threat, Nazrul pointed to the removal of Mustafizur Rahman from an IPL squad following protests in India as evidence that player safety could not be guaranteed.
The ICC had set a 24-hour deadline for Bangladesh to confirm participation, warning that refusal would lead to replacement. A virtual board vote saw Bangladesh lose 12–2, with only Pakistan backing their position.
BCB president Aminul Islam Bulbul said Bangladesh would continue to push for the option of playing their matches in Sri Lanka, but confirmed that Thursday’s meeting marked the final decision on travelling to India.
The withdrawal may represent Bangladesh’s first absence from a global men’s T20 tournament.
