The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has officially declared that Bangladesh won't be travelling to India for T20 World Cup 2026 following Mustafizur Rahman's exit from IPL 2026. Not just that BCB has also revoked the No Objection Certificate (NOC) previously granted to Mustafizur Rahman for his participation in IPL.
BCB decides not to travel to India for T20 World Cup
This decision, effective immediately, follows a high-level meeting between BCB officials and relevant authorities. The board has clarified that Mustafizur will not be permitted to play in the upcoming season due to security concerns, a stance that remains final even if his franchise, the Kolkata Knight Riders, were to reconsider his release.
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BCB released their official statement on the ongoing tussle.
"An emergency meeting of the Board of Directors of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) was held this afternoon to discuss recent developments related to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to be hosted by India and Sri Lanka," BCB's statement read.
"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."
"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."
"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 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."
"The Bangladesh Cricket Board looks forward to the ICC’s understanding of the situation and an urgent response on this matter," the statement concluded.
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Bangladesh's T20 World Cup schedule
Bangladesh have been placed in Group C for the upcoming T20 World Cup, a challenging bracket that includes matches against England, the West Indies, Nepal, and Italy. According to the original tournament schedule, their campaign is heavily centered in Kolkata. Their first three fixtures—facing off against the West Indies, Italy, and England—are all slated for the historic Eden Gardens, a venue known for its passionate atmosphere.
After completing their stint in Kolkata, the squad is scheduled to head to Mumbai for their final group-stage match. This critical encounter against Nepal at the Wankhede Stadium could serve as the deciding factor for their progression into the Super Eight stage. However, it is worth noting that the BCB has recently requested a venue change for these matches due to security concerns, suggesting that these fixtures could potentially be moved to Sri Lanka if the ICC approves the shift.