BCB Seeks Sri Lanka Shift for T20 World Cup Games

Bangladesh’s participation in the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup has come under renewed focus after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) formally pushed for its matches to be moved out of India. The request highlights how rising regional tensions can spill into major sporting events, forcing administrators to balance security concerns with tournament planning.

According to a Reuters report, the BCB has held “constructive” talks with the International Cricket Council (ICC) about relocating Bangladesh’s fixtures to Sri Lanka.

BCB reiterates request in talks with ICC

The Bangladesh Cricket Board confirmed on Saturday that officials met ICC representatives in Dhaka for discussions on the issue.

In its official statement, the BCB said it repeated its formal request to shift Bangladesh’s World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka. The board also communicated concerns shared by the Bangladesh government regarding the safety and security of players, supporters, media personnel, and other stakeholders connected to the team.

The governing body described the talks with the ICC as “constructive,” signaling that discussions remain open rather than closed or dismissed.

Why Bangladesh is asking for a venue change

The BCB’s request is rooted in security concerns amid heightened political tensions between India and Bangladesh in recent weeks.

While international cricket teams regularly travel across borders without issue, tournament-scale events bring additional risks, especially when large groups of fans, journalists, and officials are expected to move between venues and cities.

For Bangladesh, the concern is not limited to the squad alone. The board has specifically highlighted the broader ecosystem that follows a World Cup campaign: travelling supporters, media teams, and officials.

By pushing for a move to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh would still remain within the tournament’s co-hosting structure, rather than asking for a relocation outside the official host countries.

Bangladesh’s current schedule in Group C

Bangladesh are placed in Group C for the Twenty20 World Cup and are currently slated to play several matches in India.

Their group-stage schedule includes:

• Matches against West Indies, England, and Italy in Kolkata
  

• A match against Nepal in Mumbai
  

The tournament is scheduled to run from February 7 to March 8, with India and Sri Lanka serving as co-hosts.

If the ICC agrees to Bangladesh’s request, it could mean a significant reshuffle of venues, particularly for games planned in Kolkata and Mumbai.

Tensions rise after protest in New Delhi

The atmosphere around the issue has intensified following a recent incident that drew public outrage and demonstrations.

According to Reuters, hundreds of protesters gathered near Bangladesh’s High Commission in New Delhi last month. The protests followed reports that a Hindu factory worker was beaten and set on fire in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district, amid allegations that he had insulted the Prophet Muhammad.

The case has become a flashpoint in a sensitive climate, with emotions running high and public reaction spilling into the diplomatic space.

While cricket administrators do not shape foreign policy, major international tournaments often become vulnerable when political tensions rise, because public safety planning becomes more complex and more scrutinized.

Public reaction: safety takes center stage

The BCB’s position reflects a familiar reality in modern sport: when national tensions escalate, teams and boards tend to become more cautious, particularly around high-profile events like a World Cup.

For many fans, the core concern is straightforward, cricket should remain a safe and welcoming space for players and supporters, regardless of nationality.

At the same time, tournament organizers typically try to avoid last-minute venue changes because they affect logistics, ticketing, broadcasting plans, and security deployments across multiple cities.

The result is a delicate balancing act: addressing legitimate concerns without disrupting the competition’s structure.

What the ICC’s decision could mean

If the ICC approves Bangladesh’s request, it would set an important precedent for how co-hosted tournaments handle sudden security concerns involving one participating nation.

A relocation to Sri Lanka may be seen as a compromise solution because:

• Sri Lanka is already a co-host for the event
  

• The move would keep Bangladesh’s games within the tournament framework
  

• It could ease security planning for Bangladesh-linked travel groups
  

However, any change would also raise practical questions, including:

• Whether group opponents would also need to travel
  

• How the schedule would be adjusted fairly
  

• What happens to fans who purchased tickets for India venues
  

• How broadcasters and stadium operations would respond
  

For the ICC, the key challenge will be ensuring that any decision protects participants while maintaining competitive integrity.

Future implications for Bangladesh’s World Cup campaign

For Bangladesh, the uncertainty adds an extra layer of distraction before a major tournament.

Preparation for a T20 World Cup is typically built around clear conditions, venues, pitch behavior, travel routines, and match sequencing. If those variables change late, teams may have to adjust their training and planning rapidly.

Beyond the cricketing angle, the situation also reflects how international sport can be influenced by developments far outside the boundary rope. Even when tournaments are planned years in advance, real-world events can force changes in days.

If the matches remain in India, the BCB may seek additional security assurances and tighter coordination. If the games move to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh will have to reset travel and preparation plans accordingly.

Either way, the coming weeks are likely to be closely watched by fans, administrators, and broadcasters.

cricket’s biggest test is often off the field

The BCB’s push to relocate its T20 World Cup matches to Sri Lanka underscores a difficult truth about global sport: the biggest challenges are not always about form, fitness, or tactics.

As the ICC considers its options, the priority will be ensuring the safety of players and the wider cricket community, while preserving the tournament’s structure and fairness.

With the World Cup approaching fast, the next steps from the ICC could shape not only Bangladesh’s campaign, but also how future co-hosted events respond when geopolitics collides with sport.

(With inputs from Reuters.)

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