Bangladesh is reluctant to travel to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup due to security concerns and has expressed interest in playing its matches in co-host Sri Lanka. However, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has not yet made a decision on the matter.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has reportedly shown interest in hosting Bangladesh’s matches if Sri Lanka is unable to provide venues. According to Pakistani media outlet Geo Super, sources confirmed on Sunday (January 11) that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has formally informed the ICC of its willingness to host Bangladesh’s World Cup matches. PCB sources stated that all of Pakistan’s international-standard venues are fully prepared to host World Cup fixtures and highlighted the country’s recent experience in successfully hosting major ICC events, including the 2025 Champions Trophy and ICC Women’s Qualifier.
Earlier, on January 4, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) clearly stated that it would not participate in the T20 World Cup matches in India due to concerns over player safety. This stance reportedly followed the sudden exclusion of star pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL), amid growing political tensions between the two neighboring countries. Consequently, the BCB officially requested the ICC to relocate Bangladesh’s matches to Sri Lanka.
Bangladesh is placed in Group C of the 2026 T20 World Cup and was scheduled to begin its campaign against West Indies on February 7 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The Tigers were also set to face Italy on February 9 and England on February 14 at the same venue, before playing Nepal on February 17 at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
Bangladesh T20 World Cup squad:
Liton Kumar Das (captain), Saif Hassan (vice-captain), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, Mohammad Saifuddin, and Shoriful Islam.
