BCB rejects ICC request as T20 World Cup 2026 match venue controversy continues
Bangladesh’s request to move T20 World Cup 2026 matches from India continues amid security concerns, even as rising political tensions lead to financial and sponsorship setbacks for its players.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) recently hosted a video conference with the International Cricket Council (ICC) to discuss topics including the T20 World Cup 2026. This was held on Tuesday, and there was less than a month left for the tournament to commence. Despite the short time frame, uncertainty remains over Bangladesh’s participation at the scheduled venues.
During the meeting, the BCB once again requested that their group-stage matches be shifted from India to Sri Lanka. The board repeated that the request was made due to “security concerns.” Senior BCB officials, including president Md Aminul Islam and other top office-bearers, were part of the discussion and stood firm on their position.
The ICC, however, responded by stating that the tournament schedule has already been finalized and asked the BCB to rethink their demand. According to an official BCB press release, Bangladesh has not changed its stance and discussions with the ICC are still ongoing.
Political Tensions Add to Bangladesh’s Financial Worries
The ongoing strain in relations with India is now creating financial problems for Bangladesh cricket as well. Reports suggest the country could face another major setback due to the situation, especially off the field. Recently, it was reported that several top Bangladesh players may lose sponsorship deals because of the political climate. Indian cricket equipment brand SG has reportedly paused renewal talks with leading Bangladesh cricketers, including current captain Litton Das.
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Another Indian sports brand, Sareen Sports Industries (SS), has also taken steps that affect Bangladesh. The company, which previously manufactured its products in Bangladesh, is said to have stopped sourcing goods from the country. “Their sponsorship contracts were coming up for renewal. That process has been slowed down amidst the current heightened political and cricketing tensions between India and Bangladesh,” a source told the Times of India.
“In fact, another leading Indian sports equipment manufacturing company, Sareen Sports Industries (SS) had cancelled the sponsorship contracts of four-five top Bangladesh cricketers last year, when trouble began in Bangladesh. However, things may change if the relations improve between the two countries,” another source added.
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