New Delhi: The controversy surrounding Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman’s release from the Indian Premier League (IPL) has now spilled over into international cricket, with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) preparing to formally approach the International Cricket Council (ICC) to seek relocation of its T20 World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka. The development marks a significant escalation in tensions between the BCB and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) ahead of the marquee global tournament.

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, featuring 20 teams, is scheduled to be held jointly in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8. Bangladesh have been drawn in Group A, alongside England, West Indies, Nepal and Italy. As per the existing schedule, Bangladesh are slated to play three group matches in Kolkata and one in Mumbai.

BCB to seek ICC review on security concerns

According to reports, the BCB has decided to write to the ICC seeking a review of security arrangements in India and requesting that Bangladesh’s matches be shifted entirely to Sri Lanka. ESPNcricinfo reported that the decision was taken after internal deliberations within the BCB, following what it described as growing concerns over the safety of Bangladeshi players.

The move comes in the wake of Mustafizur Rahman’s release from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad ahead of the IPL 2026 season. The left-arm pacer, who was bought for ₹9.2 crore at the auction, was released after the BCCI directed the franchise to let him go, citing the prevailing situation between the two countries.

BCB officials believe that if a contracted Bangladeshi player is unable to participate in the IPL due to security or political considerations, the national team may also face similar concerns while travelling to India for a global event.

BCCI calls relocation demand impractical

The BCCI, however, has reacted strongly to reports of Bangladesh seeking a change in venues, terming the idea impractical and disruptive. A senior BCCI source told news agency PTI that altering the schedule at this stage would create serious logistical challenges.

“You can’t just change games at someone’s whims and fancies. It is a logistical nightmare. Think about opposition teams — their air tickets and hotels are booked,” the source said.

The official further explained that the tournament’s tightly packed schedule would make such a shift extremely difficult. “On all days, there are three games each, which means one game is in Sri Lanka. There is a broadcast crew involved. So it will be easier said than done,” the source added.

BCCI officials have maintained that the ICC-approved schedule was finalised after extensive planning and consultation, and any last-minute changes could have a cascading effect on teams, broadcasters and organisers.

Mustafizur Rahman release triggers escalation

The situation escalated sharply on Saturday after KKR officially released Mustafizur Rahman from their squad. The 30-year-old pacer, a key figure in Bangladesh’s limited-overs setup, was among the high-profile overseas players expected to feature in IPL 2026.

The decision followed rising political tensions between India and Bangladesh, particularly after reports of attacks on minority communities in Bangladesh. In light of the developments, the BCCI reportedly took a firm stance, leading to KKR being instructed to remove Mustafizur from their player pool.

Mustafizur later reacted to the development, stating that the situation was beyond his control, adding further fuel to the debate surrounding player security and cross-border sporting ties.

Bangladesh government steps in

Following Mustafizur’s release, the BCB convened an emergency meeting late Saturday night. The matter soon drew the attention of Bangladesh’s sports ministry, which directed the board to take the issue up with the ICC at the highest level.

Bangladesh government adviser Asif Nazrul, who oversees the Ministry of Sports, publicly confirmed the directive through a Facebook post in Bengali.

“As the adviser in charge of the Ministry of Sports, I have instructed the Cricket Control Board to put the entire matter in writing and explain it to the ICC,” he wrote.

He further stated, “The board must make it clear that if a Bangladeshi cricketer, despite being under contract, cannot play in India, then the Bangladesh national team cannot feel safe travelling to India to play the World Cup. I have also directed the board to formally request that Bangladesh’s World Cup matches be held in Sri Lanka instead.”

Bangladesh’s World Cup schedule

As per the current itinerary, Bangladesh are scheduled to play West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9 and England on February 14 in Kolkata, followed by their final group match against Nepal on February 17 in Mumbai. Any relocation would require major reshuffling of venues, travel plans and broadcast logistics.

Cricket analysts note that shifting only one team’s matches could also set a precedent, potentially opening the door for similar requests from other boards in the future.

Conclusion

With the T20 World Cup just weeks away, the standoff between the BCB and BCCI has placed the ICC in a delicate position. While Bangladesh has cited player safety as its primary concern, India has emphasised the logistical and operational challenges of altering a carefully structured tournament. As the ICC considers the BCB’s impending communication, the episode underscores how political and administrative disputes can increasingly intersect with global sporting events, threatening to overshadow the cricket itself.