KEY POINTS
- Final decision is expected within 24-48 hours as Bangladesh refuses to travel to India.
- Sri Lanka is the logical alternative venue to minimize tournament disruption.
- ICC must balance player welfare against setting a precedent for venue changes.
ISLAMABAD: The International Cricket Council (ICC) is considering a formal request from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to move its matches in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup away from India.
A decision is anticipated within the next 24 to 48 hours as tournament schedules and venue operations are being finalized, according to Cricbuzz.
Bangladesh is scheduled to play three Group matches at Eden Gardens in Kolkata (against West Indies, Italy, and England) and one match at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium against Nepal during the tournament, which runs from February 7 to March 8 and is jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
The core concern
The BCB’s push stems from what it describes as significant safety and security concerns for its team traveling to India.
Following an emergency meeting, the board resolved that Bangladesh would not participate in India under the current environment and formally petitioned the ICC to stage all their matches outside the country.
Logical alternative
Any last-minute venue change is logistically challenging, but Sri Lanka presents a feasible solution as the tournament’s co-host.
Relocating Bangladesh’s fixtures to Sri Lankan venues is seen as the most straightforward pivot, minimizing disruption to the overall tournament structure.
ICC’s delicate calculation
For the ICC, the decision involves a delicate balance. Granting the request could ease tensions and prioritise player welfare.
Operationally, approving the move would require rescheduling fixtures in Sri Lanka, revising ticketing and broadcast plans in India, and ensuring all competing teams are briefed on new logistics without affecting the tournament’s competitive integrity.
With commercial arrangements and the opening week’s schedule already mapped, the ICC’s ruling will be as much about safeguarding the tournament’s smooth operation as it is about addressing the concerns of a single member nation.
The cricketing world now awaits a verdict that could redefine the geopolitical footprint of the sport’s upcoming showpiece event.
