NEW DELHI: Amid escalating tensions between Bangladesh and India, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Sunday announced that its national team will not travel to India for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The development comes after
Mustafizur Rahman, Bangladesh’s left-arm pacer, was instructed to be released by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) following a directive from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
TimesofIndia.com takes a deep dive into the ongoing controversy.
What sparked the row between BCCI and BCB?
The BCCI on Saturday instructed KKR to release Bangladesh's Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad after calls from India’s ruling party BJP politicians and religious leaders.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed the move to ANI, citing recent circumstances.
Bangladesh bowler Mustafizur Rahman has been released by the KKR.
“Due to the recent developments which are going on all across, BCCI has instructed the franchise KKR to release one of their players, Mustafizur Rahman of Bangladesh, from their squad, and BCCI has also said that if they ask for any replacement, BCCI is going to allow that replacement,” Saikia said.
Mustafizur has played for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Mumbai Indians (MI), Rajasthan Royals (RR), Delhi Capitals (DC) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the past. The left-arm seamer has picked up 65 wickets in 60 matches overall in his IPL career. He was acquired by KKR at the IPL auction late last year for Rs 9.2 crore. Mustafizur was the only Bangladesh cricketer to find an IPL team.
What did KKR say?
“Kolkata Knight Riders confirm that BCCI/IPL, as the regulator of the IPL, has instructed it to release Mustafizur Rahman from the squad ahead of the upcoming IPL,” KKR said in a statement.
“BCCI will allow Kolkata Knight Riders a replacement player in line with IPL regulations, and further details will be communicated in due course.”
What was BCB's first reaction?
In response, the BCB revoked the No Objection Certificate granted to Mustafizur for the IPL with immediate effect, barring him from travelling to India even if the franchise were to reconsider its decision. The BCB called an emergency meeting at 9:30 pm on Saturday in response to the exclusion of Mustafizur Rahman from IPL franchise KKR.
“It is not possible to arrange a board meeting so quickly. So, we have arranged to call an emergency meeting at 9:30 pm to know about the matter in detail. Then, we will get a clear overview and may issue a media release. For being extremely busy with the BPL, we don’t have the full information. That’s why we have called the emergency meeting,” BCB president Aminul Islam Bulbul told reporters in Dhaka.
BCB won't travel to India for T20 World Cup
The Bangladesh Cricket Board has decided not to send its team to India for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, citing security concerns.
Bangladesh Cricket Board's press release on not travelling to India for the T20 World Cup
“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,” read a BCB-issued press release.
“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 press release added.
Mustafizur Rahman in action
BCB mentioned that the decision was made “to safeguard the safety and well-being of Bangladeshi players, team officials, board members and other stakeholders.”
What did Bangladesh sports and law adviser Asif Nazrul say?
Bangladesh Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul called for the BCB not to travel to India and to request a relocation of its matches to Sri Lanka. He wrote on his official Facebook page, describing it as a response to what he termed extremist communal policies in India.
“Bangladesh cricket team will not attend the upcoming World Cup in India. Bangladesh Cricket Board has taken the decision today. I am welcoming this decision, which has been taken in response to the extremist communal policies taken by India,” he wrote.
Mustafizur Rahman of Bangladesh bowls during the Asia Cup match between Bangladesh and Hong Kong at Zayed Cricket Stadium on September 11, 2025 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)
In an earlier post, Asif Nazrul said he had directed the BCB to take up the issue with the ICC, stressing that if even one Bangladeshi cricketer did not feel safe in India, the entire national team could not reasonably be expected to travel there.
“I have instructed the board to make it clear that when even an individual Bangladeshi cricketer, despite being under contract, is unable to play in India, the entire Bangladesh cricket team cannot feel safe travelling there to play in the World Cup. I have also directed the board to formally request that Bangladesh’s World Cup matches be held in Sri Lanka,” he wrote.
What will ICC and BCCI do?
It now remains to be seen how the ICC and BCCI reacts to BCB's formal request to the global cricket body. Will they relocate Bangladesh's matches to Sri Lanka? Bangladesh are scheduled to play three league matches in Kolkata and one in Mumbai. A decision is expected soon, with the tournament set to begin in a month’s time on February 7.
ICC chairman Jay Shah looks on during the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup India 2025 Semi-Final match between India and Australia at DY Patil Stadium on October 30, 2025 in Navi Mumbai, India. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)
It would result in a logistical nightmare with not much time left for the multi-nation event and it will be interesting to see whether ICC agrees to the demand or acts tough. The TimesofIndia.com reached out to BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla, who refused to comment on the issue.
Will IND–BAN follow the IND–PAK template?
Under an existing arrangement, Pakistan play all their matches in Sri Lanka, allowing India and Pakistan to face each other only at neutral venues in multi-nation tournaments.
Last year, the Indian government introduced a policy limiting sporting engagement with Pakistan to multi-nation events, linked to India’s planned bid for the 2036 Olympics. In 2024, only a Pakistani junior contingent travelled to Chennai for the South Asian Athletics Championships, with no senior Pakistan team visiting India for any sport since. Whether the current standoff between India and Bangladesh evolves along similar lines remains to be seen.
What is driving the geopolitical strain between India and Bangladesh?
Bilateral relations between the two countries have been under strain since the mass uprising in Bangladesh in 2024 that led to the removal of then prime minister Sheikh Hasina. New Delhi has expressed concerns over attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, allegations that Dhaka has denied. At the same time, Bangladesh has raised its own concerns regarding incidents of violence against religious minorities in India.
No IPL broadcast in Bangladesh
The government of Bangladesh has directed that all broadcasts and telecasts of the IPL be suspended in Bangladesh following the decision to drop Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman from the KKR's squad.
"There is no logical reason for this decision of the Indian Cricket Board and such a decision has distressed, shocked and angered the people of Bangladesh," the government order stated.
"A request has been made to stop the promotion/broadcast of all games and events of the IPL until further orders," read the statement.