Bangladesh's New Demand From ICC Over T20 World Cup Matches In India

With less than a month to go before the T20 World Cup, Bangladesh cricket finds itself in an uneasy, emotionally charged space - caught between a nation's love for the game and a growing sense of unease about what lies beyond the boundary. For the second time in recent weeks, the Bangladesh Cricket Board has written to the ICC, making it clear that it is uncomfortable travelling to India for the tournament and asking for Bangladesh's matches to be moved to Sri Lanka instead. Framed formally, it appears to be a dispute over venues and logistics. Scratch the surface, though, and it becomes obvious this is about far more than schedules and stadiums.

At the heart of Bangladesh's latest communication is not just a list of concerns; it reflects a mood back home. There is talk of national pride being hurt, of public sentiment turning raw after a series of flashpoints, most notably the dropping of Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL. In Bangladesh, that episode has been read not in isolation but as part of a larger pattern - a sense that Bangladeshi cricket is too often pushed to the margins of global decision-making.

What is BCB's Demand

Strip away the emotion, however, and the core demand is clear: security.

NDTV has learned that the BCB is asking for individual security assurances for every person who would travel to India as part of its World Cup contingent. That means not just players, but coaches, support staff, officials - everyone. The ICC's response has been to offer its full security blueprint, along with a range of options, while placing the final decision firmly back in the BCB's hands.

The BCB's most recent email includes links to media reports claiming that the ICC has rejected Bangladesh's request outright and warned that refusing to travel could result in forfeited points.

ICC's Stark Problem

From the ICC's side, the problem is stark. The tournament calendar is locked. Broadcasters are committed. Logistics across multiple cities are already in motion. Making an exception for one team is not a small tweak - it risks opening doors the governing body would prefer to keep shut.

Sources say the ICC is still trying to find common ground, but time is slipping away quickly.

For Bangladesh, the stakes feel heavier than fixture lists and tournament clauses. Cricket there is not just entertainment; it is emotional glue. It is where the country gathers, argues, celebrates and believes. Pulling out of a World Cup would not be viewed simply as a sporting call - it would feel like denying millions their moment with the Bangla Tigers.

What About The Consequences

And yet, the question refuses to go away: at what cost?

No board can compromise on player safety. No administrator can ignore fear, whether fully justified or not, once it takes hold. The BCB knows that even a minor incident would echo loudly back home, with consequences far beyond cricket.

This is not a standoff about power or defiance. It is about trust - how much still exists, how much reassurance is enough, and whether empathy can coexist with rigid global calendars and billion-dollar tournaments.

Bangladesh's desire to be part of this World Cup is beyond doubt.

The next few days will decide whether reassurance can close the gap - or whether this episode leaves behind bruises that last far longer than the tournament itself.

Topics mentioned in this article

Bangladesh Cricket Team India Cricket Team T20 World Cup 2026 International Cricket Council Bangladesh Cricket Board Cricket