After Mustafizur’s IPL exit, Bangladesh wants its T20 World Cup games out of India

(INDIA TODAY) - Bangladesh's interim government has instructed the Bangladesh Cricket Board to seek a change of venue for the team's matches at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, requesting that they be moved out of India.

The decision was confirmed by Bangladesh's sports adviser, Asif Nazrul, who announced the development in a social media post on Saturday, January 3. Nazrul said the interim government has directed the BCB to formally inform the International Cricket Council and propose Sri Lanka as an alternative venue for Bangladesh's matches in the tournament.

The issue was also discussed in an emergency Bangladesh Cricket Board meeting on Saturday, sources told India Today. The move comes in the aftermath of the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) directing Kolkata Knight Riders to terminate the contract of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman. The decision drew widespread criticism on social media, with the BCCI and KKR facing backlash over the handling of the situation involving a Bangladeshi player amid reports of attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh.

In a strong statement, Nazrul stated that they 'will not accept the humiliation of Bangladesh, Bangladeshi cricket, or Bangladeshi cricketers', also hinting that the board will stop the broadcast of IPL matches in the country.

"Bowing to extremist communal forces, the Indian cricket board has directed Kolkata Knight Riders to drop Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman from the team. I strongly condemn and protest this," Asif Nazrul wrote on Facebook.

"As the minister in charge of the Sports Ministry, I have instructed the Cricket Board to write to the ICC explaining the entire matter. The board must clearly state that if a Bangladeshi cricketer cannot play in India despite having a valid contract, then Bangladesh cannot consider it safe for its entire cricket team to travel to India to play the World Cup. I have also directed the board to formally request that Bangladesh’s World Cup matches be held in Sri Lanka," he added.

"I have requested the Minister of Information and Broadcasting to stop the broadcast of IPL matches in Bangladesh as well. Under no circumstances will we accept the humiliation of Bangladesh, Bangladeshi cricket, or Bangladeshi cricketers. The days of slavery are over," concluded Asif Nazrul.

Bangladesh are scheduled to begin their T20 World Cup campaign against former champions West Indies on February 7 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. They will take on debutants Itay in the city on February 9 before facing England at Eden Gardens on February 14. They will take on Nepal in their final league game at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.