BCB refuses to send Bangladesh players to India for T20 World Cup

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has refused to send its players to India for the 2026 T20 World Cup, expressing concern about their “safety and well-being” as the political ties between the two nations continue to deteriorate. The decision was taken in an emergency meeting of the BCB board of directors and other concerned officials on January 4.

BCB’s move comes in the aftermath of BCCI’s directive to Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur Rahman amid the rapid geopolitical developments in the subcontinent. The BCB confirmed that it has formally requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to move Bangladesh's fixtures out of India to Sri Lanka. Bangladesh were scheduled to play their first three games – against West Indies (February 7), Italy (February 9), and England (February 14) – in Kolkata as per the original schedule released by the ICC.

"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.

"In light of this decision, the BCB has formally requested the International Cricket Council (ICC), as the event authority, to consider relocating all of Bangladesh's matches to a venue outside India."

The BCB board directors summoned an emergency meeting on January 4, with the media committee chairman, Amzad Hussain, confirming that they had communicated their concerns to the ICC.

"We have three matches of the T20 World Cup in Kolkata, so we will write to the ICC regarding what has happened today,” he was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

Bangladesh's sports adviser Asif Nazrul also expressed concerns over players’ safety in the current environment in both nations. He added that he contacted the Bangladesh information and broadcasting ministry to stop the telecast of IPL in the country.

"I have asked the BCB to explain the entire matter to the ICC," Nazrul wrote on his official Facebook page. "The board should inform that where 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."

After BCCI’s instructions, KKR confirmed Mustafizur’s release on January 3, having bought the left-arm pacer for INR 9.2 crore at the IPL auction last month. Mustafizur’s acquisition was met with severe backlash in India, with both KKR and its owner Shah Rukh Khan copping flak aplenty from the Indian political leaders.

Devajit Saikia, the BCCI secretary, had cited “recent developments” behind the BCCI directive, although he did not specify further.

"Due to the recent developments which is going on all across, BCCI has instructed the franchise KKR to release one of their players, Mustafizur Rahman of Bangladesh, from their squad, and BCCI has also said that if they ask for any replacement, BCCI is going to allow that replacement," Saikia had told news agency ANI on January 3.

Mustafizur was the only Bangladesh cricketer to be a part of IPL 2026. He is currently involved in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) for Rangpur Riders.