NEW DELHI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) is considering shifting Bangladesh’s matches in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 out of India following the latest developments involving Mustafizur Rahman, a report from Cricbuzz says.
The move comes after the Bangladesh left arm pacer was released by Kolkata Knight Riders from the Indian Premier League on instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The decision has triggered a wider fallout involving Bangladesh’s participation in matches scheduled in India.
As per the original schedule, Bangladesh were set to play three group stage matches in Kolkata and one in Mumbai. However, the situation has now put that plan under serious doubt.
The ICC has not issued an official statement yet, but sources indicate that a final call could be taken in the coming days. The governing body is understood to be closely monitoring the situation before announcing any changes to the schedule.
Earlier in the day, the Bangladesh Cricket Board formally requested the ICC to relocate their matches outside India. The board cited increasing concerns over the safety and security of the players following the Mustafizur Rahman episode.
“Following a thorough assessment of the prevailing situation and the growing concerns regarding the safety and security of the Bangladesh contingent in India and considering the advice from the Bangladesh Government, the Board of Directors resolved that the Bangladesh National Team will not travel to India for the tournament under the current conditions,” the BCB said in a statement.
If the ICC agrees to the request, Bangladesh’s matches could be shifted to Sri Lanka, the co host of the tournament. A similar arrangement had earlier been explored for Pakistan under comparable circumstances.
