Bangladesh await ICC reply for next step after T20 World Cup venue change request

Bangladesh Cricket Board president Aminul Islam has said that they are waiting for a response from the International Cricket Council (ICC) to decide their next course of action after requesting a change in venue during the T20 World Cup 2026.

Bangladesh decided they will not be travelling to India for the 2026 T20 World Cup as the BCB wrote to the ICC on Sunday, January 4. The announcement follows a controversy involving Mustafizur Rahman’s early release from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad ahead of the IPL 2026 season.

According to the BCB, concerns over player safety were the primary reason behind the decision to opt out of travelling to India for the multi-nation event. While the board had initially planned to place three points before the ICC, it eventually moved forward with just a single formal request.

"You know that we, along with all the directors of the cricket board, held two meetings before taking this decision, and at this moment we do not feel secure sending our team to India to play the World Cup," Aminul told reporters on Monday.

"So we wrote a letter to the ICC, and in the letter we clearly stated what we wanted to say. Because to us, security appeared to be a major concern and that is what we are



following. We have sent an email to the ICC and we are expecting them to tell us to have a meeting with them soon, where we will express our concern," he said.

The BCB president said that they aren't communicating with the BCCI on the matter and the talks are with the ICC.

"But what our next step will be depends on the reply to the email we have sent. We do not know what feedback will come (from ICC), but the clauses we have given are within the MPO. We are not communicating with BCCI because this is an ICC event. We are communicating with the ICC," said Islam.

With India also planning not to head to Bangladesh for the scheduled white-ball tour, the relationship between the two countries appeared to be strained at the moment. However, the BCB president begs to differ on the matter.

"Look, cricket between the two countries (relationship between India and Bangladesh), like playing a bilateral series or playing in the World Cup, is one thing and security concern is another matter," said Islam.

"So for now, we are thinking about the World Cup issue (security)."

A day after sending the letter to the ICC, Bangladesh also decided to ban the telecast of the Indian Premier League in the country.