Bangladesh Stand Firm on India Tour Stance, Push ICC for Sri Lanka Venue

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has stood firm on its stance against touring India in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 despite warnings from the International Cricket Council. BCB president Aminul Islam assured that the board would once again officially seek permission for Bangladesh to play its matches in Sri Lanka.

The board maintained its position after a high-level meeting with BCB officials, players, and the sports adviser of the interim government. The ICC made it clear that Bangladesh could be replaced if the country does not comply, as the tournament begins on February 7.

"We will go back to the ICC with our plan to play in Sri Lanka," BCB president Islam said at a press conference.

"They did give us a 24-hour ultimatum, but a global body can't really do that. ICC will miss out on 200 million people watching the World Cup (if Bangladesh is axed). It will be their loss."

Bangladesh’s interim government has openly supported the board’s decision. Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul stressed that the choice was not solely a cricketing one.

Bangladesh “cannot be forced to play in India,” he said, adding that the refusal to tour India was taken at the government level. "We are hopeful that ICC will give us the opportunity to play in Sri Lanka," Nazrul added.

Ties between the two countries have become significantly strained following the 2024 mass uprising in Bangladesh that ousted the previous Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina. The situation is further complicated by the fact that elections in Bangladesh are to be held during the World Cup.

After an emergency ICC board meeting, the ruling body ruled out any security concerns in India and withdrew any plans to change the schedule of the tournament, as they feared a bad precedent. Due to the fact that Sri Lanka has not been approached officially as a host, the ICC has indicated that Scotland may take the place of Bangladesh in the event of withdrawal.

Bangladesh team captain Litton Das admitted that the team is uncertain. “Everyone is uncertain,” he said.

This is the same case as the one in the arrangement of Pakistan that will play its World Cup matches in Sri Lanka because of years of tension between Pakistan and India. Up to this point, the Bangladesh T20 World Cup has remained intertwined with sport, diplomacy, and governance as the controversy escalates.