Bangladesh demands 2026 T20 World Cup venue change as ties with India fray

“The days of slavery are over.” Bangladesh is officially set to ask the International Cricket Council (ICC) to move its team's 2026T20 World Cup fixtures from India to Sri Lanka. Citing severe safety concerns for its players, the interim government in Dhaka has escalated the dispute following the abrupt removal of star pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The Politics Behind the Bangladesh 2026 T20 World Cup venue change request

Asif Nazrul, the youth and sports adviser, confirmed on January 3, 2026, that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has been instructed to seek clarity from the ICC. The move comes after Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) released Mustafizur Rahman under advice from the BCCI. Nazrul argued that if a contracted player isn't safe to play in India, the entire national squad cannot feel secure participating in a major tournament hosted there.

The BCB is expected to hold an emergency meeting today to finalize the request. Should the ICC agree, Bangladesh would join Pakistan as the second nation to have its matches shifted to co-host Sri Lanka for the tournament running from February 7 to March 8, 2026.

Diplomatic fallout spills onto the pitch

Tensions between the South Asian neighbors have flared since the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2025. Religious violence in Bangladesh and subsequent protests at the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi have pushed diplomatic relations to a new low. Mutual cricket tours were already postponed indefinitely last year, signaling a breakdown in 'cricket diplomacy' that once anchored the region.