Bangladesh decides against India travel for T20 World Cup, after Mustafizur row

Bangladesh will not travel to India for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has decided following an emergency directors’ meeting. The decision was made following the ongoing controversy involving Mustafizur Rahman’s release from the Kolkata Knight Riders squad ahead of IPL 2026, an episode that triggered widespread outrage in Bangladesh and raised serious concerns over player safety.

The situation escalated on Saturday when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) instructed KKR to release Rahman from their IPL squad. The pacer had been bought by KKR for INR 9.20 crore at the IPL 2026 mini-auction, but his abrupt removal reportedly followed pressure from political and religious groups in India. The development led to strong reactions in Bangladesh, with sports adviser Asif Nazrul urging the BCB to reconsider sending the national team to India for the global event.

Amid growing public and political pressure, the Bangladesh sports ministry advised the BCB to formally approach the ICC to move Bangladesh’s World Cup matches away from Indian soil, citing security concerns.

During a meeting attended by 17 BCB directors on Sunday, the board reached a unanimous decision that Bangladesh will not play any of its T20 World Cup matches in India. A senior BCB official confirmed that the board has already written to the ICC.

"Bangladesh will not go to India to play in the World Cup. The Bangladesh Cricket Board made this decision today. I welcome this decision, taken in response to the Indian cricket board's extreme communal policies," they wrote.

ICC yet to reply to BCB's plea

Although there were initial discussions about raising multiple issues with the ICC, the BCB ultimately submitted a demand to relocate Bangladesh’s matches to Sri Lanka. The board believes the left-arm pacer's episode has created an environment where the safety of Bangladeshi players cannot be guaranteed.

Meanwhile, the BCB revoked the No Objection Certificate (NOC) granted to Mustafizur Rahman to play in the IPL with immediate effect. This means that even if KKR were to reconsider its decision, the pacer will not be allowed to participate in the league for security reasons. However, the ICC has yet to respond to Bangladesh’s request, while the BCCI has reportedly termed the idea of shifting matches as logistically impossible.