The Kabul Tribune (KT) — The standoff over Bangladesh’s participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup has deepened after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) formally backed Bangladesh’s refusal to play its matches in India, citing political tensions and security concerns, a day before the International Cricket Council (ICC) is expected to make a final decision.
On Tuesday, the PCB wrote to the ICC supporting the
Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) position that it does not want to play its
World Cup fixtures in India due to ongoing political turmoil between the two
countries. The T20 World Cup is co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka and is
scheduled to begin on February 7, 2026.
According to ESPNCricinfo, the ICC has called a board
meeting for Wednesday, January 21, 2026, to address Bangladesh’s request to
relocate its matches outside India because of what it described as “security
and safety concerns.”
While PCB’s involvement in the dispute has raised eyebrows,
it is not expected to affect the tournament schedule, as the ICC has so far
maintained its stance that Bangladesh must play all of its matches in India.
Both the ICC and BCB reportedly stuck to their positions during discussions
last week, after which a January 21 deadline was set to decide Bangladesh’s
participation — a deadline later denied by the BCB.
Media reports suggest the PCB has indicated willingness to
host Bangladesh’s matches in Pakistan and has also reviewed its own
participation depending on the outcome of the dispute. However, the PCB has not
issued any official comment on the matter, according to ESPNCricinfo.
The row began on January 3, 2026, when the Board of Control
for Cricket in India ordered Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight
Riders to drop Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman. The decision sparked
anger in Dhaka and fueled Bangladesh’s reluctance to travel to India, prompting
the BCB to ask the ICC to relocate its T20 World Cup matches.
Indian media have reported that Bangladesh was told to agree
to play in India by Wednesday or risk being removed from the tournament. The
Bangladeshi government, however, rejected what it described as pressure
tactics.
“We have logically requested a change of venue for valid
reasons,” Asif Nazrul, adviser for youth and sports in Bangladesh’s interim
government, told the state-run BSS news agency late Tuesday. “We cannot be
forced to play in India through illogical pressure or unreasonable coercion.”
Bangladesh is scheduled to play four group matches in Kolkata
and Mumbai. However, team captain Litton Das said uncertainty surrounds their
participation.
“From where I stand, I’m uncertain, everyone is uncertain,”
Das told reporters after a domestic match on Tuesday. “Are you sure we will
play the World Cup? I think at this moment, the whole of Bangladesh is
uncertain,” he added, according to Dhaka-based newspaper Prothom Alo.
Sources in Colombo said Sri Lanka has not been approached
about hosting Bangladesh’s matches. One proposal under discussion is replacing
Bangladesh with Scotland, the highest-ranked team that failed to qualify for
the World Cup. The BBC reported that Cricket Scotland has not been contacted by
the ICC but is prepared to step in if called.
The tournament coincides with Bangladesh preparing for its first elections since a mass uprising in 2024 that toppled former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, a close ally of New Delhi. Since then, political relations between India and Bangladesh have significantly deteriorated.
