“The standoff could reshape how future tournaments handle venue disputes.”
Bangladesh are standing firm in their dispute with the International Cricket Council (ICC) over the venues for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) says the team will not travel to India for its group-stage matches because of security and political concerns. They want to move their games to Sri Lanka, a co-host of the tournament.
The ICC rejected the request, stating there is no serious threat to the team’s safety and changing venues now would disrupt the tournament. The council also warned Bangladesh to confirm participation soon or face removal from the competition.
Bangladesh officials say they are not skipping the World Cup. They want to play only under conditions they consider safe and fair. They described the pressure to travel to India as “coercion” and insist they will not give in.
If no agreement emerges, Bangladesh could miss the T20 World Cup, and another team may take their place. The cricket world now waits to see whether a solution appears before the deadline.