ICC Rejects Bangladesh’s Request to Move T20 World Cup Matches to Sri Lanka Amid Rising Tensions with India

By Lions Roar News Sports & International Desk

DUBAI / COLOMBO (January 8, 2026) — The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially rejected a formal request from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to relocate its upcoming T20 World Cup matches from India to co-host Sri Lanka.

The request comes amidst a sharp deterioration in diplomatic and sporting relations between India and Bangladesh, which has already seen significant fallout in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and regional broadcasting.

🏏 The Request: Seeking Neutral Ground

Citing security concerns and the volatile political climate, the BCB had petitioned the ICC to allow the Bangladesh national team to play its scheduled fixtures in Sri Lanka instead of India.

• The ICC Ruling: International media reports confirm that the ICC has turned down the request, maintaining that the tournament schedule and venues were finalized well in advance. Relocating a specific team’s matches would cause “insurmountable logistical and commercial challenges.”
• Host Status: India and Sri Lanka are serving as co-hosts for the tournament, but the BCB specifically requested that their slate of games be shifted entirely to the Sri Lankan leg of the event.

📉 Cracks in Cricket Diplomacy

The friction between the two South Asian neighbors has spilled over into the world’s most lucrative cricket league and the media landscape:

• Mustafizur Rahman Axed: In a stunning move, Bangladeshi pace sensation Mustafizur Rahman was recently removed from the Indian Premier League (IPL). Sources suggest the decision was tied to the ongoing controversial tensions between the two nations.
• Broadcasting Ban: In retaliation or as a further sign of the rift, the broadcast of the IPL has been officially banned within Bangladesh, leaving millions of fans unable to watch the tournament.

⚠️ A Hostile Atmosphere

The controversy highlights the growing difficulty of hosting international sports in the region when political disputes arise. While the ICC aims to keep politics out of the game, the BCB’s concerns reflect a genuine worry regarding the reception and safety of their players on Indian soil given the current “controversial situation.”

With the ICC’s rejection, Bangladesh is now faced with the prospect of competing in India despite the cold relations, or further escalating their protest.