Ever since the BCCI instructed Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL squad for the 2026 tournament, there has been uncertainty over Bangladesh’s participation in the 2026 T20 World Cup in India. Here’s what we know so far.
Bangladesh are scheduled to play at least four T20 World Cup games in India next month - they will take on the West Indies, Italy and England in Kolkata, before travelling to Mumbai for the clash against Nepal on February 17. However, Mustafizur’s release by the IPL side KKR has led to days of back-and-forth between the ICC and the BCB, with the latter keen to shift their matches to Sri Lanka.
The Bangladesh-India row: Latest updates and all you need to know
On January 3, KKR were asked to release Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur from their IPL 2026 squad following instructions from the BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, who cited “recent developments” as the reason, without elaboration. Indian media reports suggested political and religious sensitivities around Mustafizur’s inclusion, though there was no official confirmation around this from the board. The move came a day after the BCB announced its 2026 home season, which includes India touring Bangladesh later in the year, and amid Bangladesh’s scheduled participation in the T20 World Cup in India in February and March.
On January 4, the BCB announced it would not travel to India for the T20 World Cup under the prevailing conditions, citing concerns over the “safety and well-being” of players. The decision followed multiple board meetings over 24 hours, with the BCB also acting on government advice. The BCB formally requested the ICC to relocate all of Bangladesh’s matches outside India. Bangladesh’s sports adviser Asif Nazrul publicly backed the move, while BCB officials questioned how security could be assured for a full squad if, as they saw it, one player could not be protected in the IPL.
On January 5, the Bangladesh government banned the broadcast of IPL 2026, calling Mustafizur’s removal inexplicable and “distressing” to the public. This marked the first time that Bangladesh blocked the telecast of a major international cricket league. The BCB also confirmed it had written to both the ICC, seeking relocation of its World Cup matches, and the BCCI, asking for clarification over Mustafizur’s release.
On January 6, the ICC scheduled talks with the BCB in an attempt to resolve the standoff. Bangladesh reiterated its position that it would not travel to India and sought relocation to Sri Lanka, the tournament’s co-host. Conflicting reports later emerged from the talks between the two parties, with ESPNcricinfo reporting that the ICC had rejected relocation and warned of forfeiture, a claim the BCB publicly denied.
On January 7, the BCB said the ICC had expressed willingness to work closely with it to ensure Bangladesh’s “full and uninterrupted participation” in the tournament, while avoiding any clarity on venue changes. The board again denied receiving any ultimatum from the ICC and emphasised continued dialogue.
On January 8, Nazrul doubled down on Bangladesh’s refusal, framing the issue as one of national dignity as well as player safety, and reiterating the request to play in Sri Lanka instead of India.
On January 12, it emerged that the ICC had shared an internal security assessment with the BCB, indicating no specific or heightened threat to the Bangladesh team in India. The assessment classified risks as low to moderate in some venues, standard for ICC events. The ICC maintained that the published schedule remained binding.
On January 13, the BCB reaffirmed its stance of not travelling to India in another video conference with the ICC, along with another request to move their matches out of India. A statement from the BCB said that they remained “committed to safeguarding the well-being of its players, officials and staff while engaging constructively with the ICC to address the matter.”
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