T20 World Cup-2026: What decision ICC took regarding Bangladesh's request to change venue of matches?
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rejected the Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) request to change the venue for their T20 World Cup-2026 matches. The ICC has made it clear that Bangladesh will have to play all their league matches in India, failing which they will forfeit their points.
On December 16, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) bought Bangladeshi bowler Mustafizur Rahman for Rs9.20 crore in the IPL mini-auction. Following this, protests against Mustafizur erupted in India due to the killing of Hindus in Bangladesh. So far, six Hindus have been murdered there. Subsequently, the BCCI did not grant Mustafizur permission to play in the IPL, and KKR released him on January 3.
After Mustafizur's release from KKR, the Bangladesh Cricket Board and the Bangladeshi government banned the broadcast of the IPL in Bangladesh. They also refused to play their World Cup matches in India and sent an email to the ICC requesting a change of venue.
BCB had refused to play their T20 World Cup matches in India
The BCB had refused to play their T20 World Cup matches in India, citing security concerns after Mustafizur Rahman was ruled out of the IPL, and had appealed to the ICC to shift their matches to Sri Lanka.
ICC chairman Jay Shah and other officials were in Mumbai on Tuesday. They first held discussions with officials from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and then with the Bangladesh Cricket Board.
The ICC categorically stated that there would be no change in the venue and that Bangladesh would have to play their World Cup matches in India, otherwise they would lose their points.