Bangladesh faces deadline over T20 World Cup India refusal

Bangladesh – (Special Correspondent / Web Desk)

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reportedly given Bangladesh an ultimatum: either agree to play their T20 World Cup matches in India next month or face the possibility of being removed from the tournament.

Bangladesh had announced on January 4 that it would not play in India following the release of player Mustafizur Rahman by his IPL team, amid rising tensions between the two countries. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) then formally requested the ICC to move their matches to Sri Lanka.

The T20 World Cup is set to begin on February 7, with Bangladesh placed in England’s Group C, scheduled to play all group-stage matches in Kolkata and Mumbai. Over the weekend, BCB officials met with ICC representatives in Dhaka to discuss the matter, but no resolution was reached.

In a statement, the BCB said it reiterated its formal request to shift Bangladesh’s matches to Sri Lanka. While the ICC has not made an official comment, reports from Cricinfo and other Indian media suggest Dhaka has until Wednesday to make a decision. ICC sources indicate that if Bangladesh withdraws, Scotland — the highest-ranked team that did not qualify — could replace them in the tournament.

One suggestion was for Bangladesh to swap with Group B’s Ireland, whose matches are in Sri Lanka.

“Among other points, the possibility of moving Bangladesh to a different group as a means of facilitating the matter with minimum logistical adjustments was discussed,” said the BCB.

Pakistan will play all their matches in Colombo under an ICC agreement with India to play at neutral venues in global or regional tournaments.

The row erupted on January 3, when the IPL’s Kolkata Knight Riders were ordered by India’s cricket board to drop Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman, sparking fury in Dhaka.

Political relations between India and Bangladesh soured after a mass uprising in Dhaka in 2024 toppled then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina, a close ally of New Delhi.

Pakistan backs Bangladesh over India tour for T20 World Cup 2026

India’s foreign ministry last month condemned what it called “unremitting hostility against minorities” in Muslim-majority Bangladesh.

Bangladesh’s interim leader, Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, has accused India of exaggerating the scale of the violence.