- Bangladesh’s Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 fixtures to remain in India
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed that the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will proceed as scheduled, with Bangladesh’s matches remaining in India, rejecting a request from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to relocate their fixtures to Sri Lanka.
The decision was taken during an ICC Board meeting held via video conference today (21), convened specifically to address the BCB’s concerns. After reviewing multiple security assessments, including independent evaluations, the ICC concluded that there is no credible or verifiable threat to the safety of Bangladesh players, officials, media personnel or fans at any of the tournament venues in India.
In a detailed statement, the ICC said altering the schedule so close to the tournament, in the absence of a genuine security risk, was neither practical nor appropriate. The governing body also warned that making exceptions under such circumstances could set a dangerous precedent, potentially undermining the neutrality, fairness and long-term integrity of ICC events.
The ICC confirmed it had engaged in sustained dialogue with the BCB, sharing comprehensive security plans, venue-level assessments, and assurances from Indian federal and state law-enforcement authorities. Despite these efforts, the BCB maintained its position, reportedly linking its participation to an unrelated domestic league issue involving one of its players, which the ICC stated had no relevance to tournament security.
“The ICC’s venue and scheduling decisions are guided by objective threat assessments, host guarantees, and agreed terms of participation that apply uniformly to all 20 competing nations,” an ICC spokesperson said. “In the absence of any independent findings that materially compromise safety, the ICC is unable to relocate fixtures without significant logistical consequences and precedent-related risks.”
The ICC reiterated its commitment to acting in good faith while safeguarding the collective interests of the global game, confirming that preparations for the India–Sri Lanka co-hosted Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will continue under the existing schedule.
