Overview:
The conflict began when the BCCI instructed Kolkata Knight Riders to drop Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad, citing deteriorating political relations between Bangladesh and India.
A day before the ICC is set to finalize its decision on Bangladesh’s involvement in the 2026 men’s T20 World Cup, the PCB has sent a letter supporting the BCB’s refusal to play in India due to ongoing political tensions in the region. According to ESPN, the PCB also included the ICC Board members in the correspondence.
Sources indicate that the ICC has called a Board meeting on Wednesday to deliberate on the BCB’s request to have Bangladesh‘s games moved to Sri Lanka, citing security risks in India. It has not been confirmed whether the PCB’s email was a factor in initiating the meeting.
The timing of the PCB’s letter could raise some questions, but it is not anticipated to influence the ICC’s current stance. The governing body has remained resolute in its decision to keep the World Cup schedule unchanged and has informed Bangladesh that their matches will not be hosted in Sri Lanka. This position was reaffirmed by the ICC in its discussions with the BCB last week.
The BCB, supported by the Bangladesh government, has decided against traveling to India for the team’s group-stage fixtures. The ICC and BCB have engaged in several rounds of talks on the issue, with the most recent meeting occurring in Dhaka last weekend. However, both sides have remained firm. The ICC is determined that the matches will go on as originally planned, while the BCB has stated it cannot send the team to India. A final decision was anticipated by Wednesday, January 21, with the tournament less than three weeks away.
The PCB’s delayed involvement in the matter follows a week of speculation about possible ways to resolve the matter. There were unconfirmed reports claiming that the PCB had suggested hosting Bangladesh’s matches in Pakistan and, more controversially, was reconsidering Pakistan’s participation in the World Cup, depending on how the situation with Bangladesh unfolds. The PCB has refrained from commenting publicly on the situation and has not responded to ESPNcricinfo’s questions.
The conflict began when the BCCI instructed Kolkata Knight Riders to drop Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad, citing deteriorating political relations between Bangladesh and India. This prompted the Bangladesh government to announce that the national team would not compete in India. The situation worsened, leading to a player boycott in Bangladesh and affecting the ongoing BPL, after a senior BCB official criticized the country’s top players over the financial consequences if Bangladesh withdrew from the T20 World Cup.