T20 World Cup 2026: Bangladesh refuses to travel to India, requests transfer of matches amid political tensions

Bangladesh will not travel to India for next month’s T20 World Cup “under the current circumstances” and has requested that its matches be moved elsewhere, the country’s cricket board said.

Bangladeshi bowler Mustafizur Rahman has been released by his Indian Premier League team at the request of the Indian board amid rising tensions between the two countries.

This led to an emergency meeting at the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), which now says they have “formally requested” the International Cricket Council (ICC) to move all Bangladesh matches.

“The Board believes that such a move is necessary to protect the safety and well-being of the Bangladeshi players, team officials, board members and other stakeholders and to ensure the team is able to participate in the tournament in a safe and appropriate environment,” a statement said.

The move threatens to wreak havoc on a competition that begins on February 7 that has already been affected by political tensions between India and Pakistan.

Bangladesh are scheduled to play all four of their group stage matches in India, including the opening day match against the West Indies and against England in Kolkata on February 14.

Sri Lanka is co-hosting the tournament, and all matches will be held in Pakistan due to tensions with India.

The killing of a Hindu man during violent protests in Bangladesh has pushed tense relations between Bangladesh and India into a deeper crisis.

The man was accused of blasphemy and beaten to death by a mob in Muslim-majority Bangladesh, in an incident that led to protests by Hindu nationalist groups in India.

Anti-India sentiment has increased in Bangladesh since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to the country in 2024.

India did not agree to return it despite numerous requests, while violent protests broke out over the killing of Sharif Usman Hadi, a prominent student leader, in Bangladesh.

Mustafizur was withdrawn from his IPL contract with Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) did not give any reason for the decision, but secretary Devajit Saikia cited “recent developments”.

“The Board has reviewed the situation in detail, taking into account the developments over the past 24 hours, and has expressed its deep concern about the overall circumstances surrounding Bangladesh’s participation in the matches scheduled to be played in India,” said the BCB, which also announced its 15-man squad on Sunday.

“After a comprehensive assessment of the prevailing situation and growing concerns regarding the safety and security of the Bangladeshi squad in India… the Board of Directors has decided that the national team will not travel to India to participate in the tournament under the current circumstances.”

The International Criminal Court did not respond to the BBC’s request for comment.

Bangladesh T20 World Cup squad: Liton Das (captain), Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hassan, Pervez Hossain Emon, Tohid Hridavi, Shamim Hossain, Nurul Hassan (wk), Mehdi Hasan, Rashad Hossain, Nasoom Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzeem Hassan Saqib, Taskin Ahmed, Mohammad Saifuddin, Shariful Islam.