Jay Shah-led ICC begins preparing fresh T20 World Cup schedule:Bangladesh demands hybrid model like Pakistan, why it could be a logistical nightmare for India?

In a major development ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has officially requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to move Bangladesh’s matches out of India. Following the request, the ICC, led by Chairman Jay Shah, reportedly has started the process of preparing a revised schedule. Is Bangladesh going to be the second nation who will be playing matches with India in a neutral venue? As per the report of the Indian Express, citing ‘growing concerns regarding the safety and security’ of its players and officials, the BCB has asked that Bangladesh’s matches be shifted to Sri Lanka, which is a co-host of the tournament. The move has added a new layer of uncertainty to the World Cup schedule. The request comes amid rising political and diplomatic tensions between India and Bangladesh. The ICC is now expected to take a final call on the matter at the earliest. The original schedule had matches in Kolkata and Mumbai As per the original fixture list, Bangladesh were scheduled to play three Group C matches in Kolkata. These included the opening match against West Indies on February 7, followed by games against Italy on February 9 and England on February 14. Bangladesh’s final group-stage match was set to be played against Nepal in Mumbai on February 17. However, these plans are now uncertain following the BCB’s decision to not send the team to India under the current situation. Logistical nightmares around Bangladesh’s T20 WC matches As Bangladesh has refused to travel to India for the T20 World Cup 2026 in February, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has requested a neutral venue, similar to Pakistan’s arrangement. Following this development, the ICC has reportedly begun working on a revised schedule for the tournament. However, the situation could turn complicated if the venues are changed at this stage. Also read: Pro Panja League 3 goes global, to have international athletes: Tournament founders Preeti Jhangiani, Parvinn Dabass speak on arm-wrestling’s future in India All tickets for the Kolkata and Mumbai matches are already sold out, and many Bangladeshi fans have made advance travel plans. Hotel bookings and flight tickets have been confirmed, and any shift of matches to Sri Lanka would force fans to change or cancel these arrangements. This could result in significant financial losses for Bangladeshi supporters, adding another challenge to an already sensitive situation. BCB move comes after KKR-IPL controversy The BCB’s decision came just a day after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) asked Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from their squad for the upcoming IPL season. The BCCI cited “recent developments” for the move, which is believed to be linked to the ongoing domestic unrest in Bangladesh. This decision reportedly angered the Bangladesh government and triggered strong reactions. Bangladesh government reacts strongly after Mustafizur’s row Reacting on social media, Asif Nazrul, advisor for Youth and Sports in the Mohammad Yunus-led interim government in Bangladesh, wrote: “We won’t stand for any insult to Bangladesh’s cricket, cricketers and the country. The days of slavery are over.” Following this, the BCB held two emergency meetings within 24 hours, including a virtual meeting on Sunday afternoon, before taking a final call. In an official statement, the BCB said, “The Board reviewed the situation in detail, taking into account developments over the last 24 hours and expressed deep concern over the overall circumstances surrounding the participation of the Bangladesh National Team in matches scheduled to be played in India.” Also read: Sam Curran (74) guides Desert Vipers to maiden ILT20 title: Defeated MI Emirates by 46 runs, bowled out for 136 runs in 18.3 overs; Pyne-Naseem bag 3-wickets each Bangladesh refuses to visit India for the T20 WC 2026 The board further stated, “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 also formally informed the ICC, “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 second team, after Pakistan refused to play in India With this decision, Bangladesh has become the second team, after Pakistan to refuse to play matches in India due to government advice. Pakistan’s matches in the tournament, including knockout games if they qualify, are also scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka. Nazrul later welcomed the BCB’s decision and criticised the BCCI again, calling its policies “aggressive” and “communal”. Also read: ‘No Surprise, this embarrassment we have brought upon ourselves’: Shashi Tharoor slams BCCI after Bangladesh refuse to visit India for T20 World Cup ICC decision awaited for te Bangladesh’s visit to India The situation has similarities with past events, including visa issues faced by Bangladeshi journalists during the 2023 ODI World Cup in India and the recent closure of Indian visa centres in Bangladesh, citing security reasons. The BCB concluded its statement by saying, “The Board believes that such a step is necessary to safeguard the safety and well-being of Bangladeshi players, team officials, Board members and other stakeholders and to ensure that the team can participate in the tournament in a secure and appropriate environment.”