Bangladesh to move T20 World Cup 2026 matches from India amid Mustafizur Rahman’s IPL ban: Reports

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) to relocate their T20 World Cup 2026 matches from India to Sri Lanka after the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) were instructed to release their left-arm pacer, Mustafizur Rahman, as a result of the broken political ties between India and Bangladesh.

On January 3, the BCCI secretary revealed that they had asked the KKR side to leave their Bangladesh pacer, whom they had bought for a massive price of INR 9.2 crore in the IPL 2026 mini auction, before the Knight Riders confirmed the news and informed that they would now look for a replacement in due course.

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“We have three matches of the T20 World Cup in Kolkata, so we will write to the ICC regarding what has happened today.” The media committee chairman, Amzad Hussain, revealed to ESPNcricinfo, according to reports, that the BCB is expected to write to the ICC to raise concerns about the safety of their players in Kolkata, where they are scheduled to play their first three matches of the World Cup next month.

BCB reaches out to ICC to move T20 World Cup 2026 matches from India

Bangladesh’s sports adviser, Asif Nazrul, explained their players’ safety after the BCCI cited the recent developments in the removal of Mustafizur from IPL, adding that he would instruct moving their games to Sri Lanka.

 “I have asked the BCB to explain the entire matter to the ICC. The board should inform that if a Bangladeshi cricketer cannot play in India despite being contracted, the entire Bangladeshi cricket team cannot feel safe going to play in the World Cup. I have also instructed the Board to request that Bangladesh's World Cup matches be held in Sri Lanka.” Nazmul wrote on his Facebook page officially.

Interestingly, the BCB announced their home schedule for 2026, including the white-ball series against India, which was postponed from 2025. Their opening clash of the World Cup event will be on February 07 against West Indies at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.