Uncertainty has emerged over Bangladesh’s participation in the T20 World Cup due to questions surrounding travel to India.

Cricket website ESPNcricinfo reports that the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) held a virtual meeting yesterday. However, conflicting accounts have surfaced regarding the outcome of that discussion.

According to Cricinfo, the ICC clearly informed the BCB that it would not be possible to relocate Bangladesh’s World Cup matches outside India. The governing body reportedly stated that Bangladesh must play its matches in India if it wishes to compete in the tournament, warning that failure to do so could result in the loss of points.
The BCB, however, has offered a different version, claiming that no final message or ultimatum was delivered by the ICC during the meeting.

So far, neither the ICC nor the BCB has issued an official statement about the meeting. The virtual discussion was arranged after the BCB sent a letter to the ICC last Sunday, requesting consideration of hosting Bangladesh’s matches outside India.

The issue has created an atmosphere of uncertainty just a month before the World Cup begins. The 20-team T20 World Cup will run from February 7 to March 8, with India and Sri Lanka as co-hosts. Bangladesh, placed in Group C, is scheduled to play its first three matches in Kolkata—against West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9, and England on February 14. Their final group match is set for February 17 in Mumbai against Nepal.

The situation is linked to developments surrounding fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman. During last December’s IPL auction, Kolkata Knight Riders signed him for 92 million rupees, making him the only Bangladeshi player selected in the 2026 auction. Recently, however, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) instructed KKR to release Mustafizur from their squad. The BCCI secretary confirmed the decision to the media but did not explain the reasoning, and reports suggest the IPL Governing Council did not formally meet on the matter.

Following these events, the BCB raised security concerns and announced that Bangladesh would not play any World Cup matches in India. Until yesterday, the board remained firm in its stance, stating that even assurances of maximum security would not change its position. Officials believe that not only the team, but also many Bangladeshi supporters traveling for the World Cup, could face safety risks.

A senior BCB official, speaking anonymously, said the board wants the team to participate in the World Cup but cannot proceed under the current circumstances. According to the official, Bangladesh would only travel to India if the government instructs the board to do so.

If the ICC has indeed taken a final position and refuses to move Bangladesh’s matches from India, the situation could become even more complicated. All eyes are now on how the BCB responds in the coming days.