Bangladesh government reiterated its refusal to play T20 World Cup 2026 matches in India, with sports advisor Asif Nazrul saying games can be held in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, or the UAE instead.
Bangladesh has reaffirmed their refusal to play any matches of the T20 World Cup 2026 in India. The government is standing firm weeks before the tournament begins on February 7. Sports advisor Asif Nazrul said the position remains unchanged despite discussions around alternate Indian venues.
Nazrul responded to reports suggesting venue changes within India and separate claims that Pakistan has shown interest in hosting the matches. He made it clear that Bangladesh is open to playing its fixtures in Sri Lanka, Pakistan, or the UAE, but not anywhere in India.
“I already said India means India. We are talking about India; we did not say Kolkata. So our position is, if you change it from Kolkata and give another venue – Sri Lanka can be given, no problem,” Nazrul told reporters at the Bangladesh Football Federation on Monday. “I saw in the newspapers, I do not know whether it is true or false, that Pakistan has offered to host our tournaments. Hold it in Pakistan, no problem. Hold it in the United Arab Emirates, no problem,” he said.
Asif Nazrul Questions ICC’s Neutrality
The Bangladesh government has already sent a second letter to the International Cricket Council and is waiting for a formal response. Nazrul believes the issue extends beyond venues and relates to player safety and confidence.
“If the ICC truly wants to be a global organization, and if the ICC does not rise and sit at India’s command, then we must be given the opportunity to play in the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka. We will not make any compromise on this issue and when there is no playing environment for one of our team’s players, and the national cricket board of India, a national authority, bows its head to these aggressive communal forces and says that he should not be allowed to play here – what bigger proof does the ICC need, I do not understand,” he added.
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The issue began after the Board of Control for Cricket in India asked Kolkata Knight Riders to remove pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their squad. The move reportedly came amid rising tensions in India after reports of attacks on the Hindu minority in Bangladesh.
This triggered a strong response from the BCB, which formally approached the ICC seeking a change in venues for upcoming matches. However, ICC has so far declined to approve the request.
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