Bangladesh refuses to travel to India for T20 World Cup after Mustafizur's snub from IPL

Bangladesh will not travel to India for the 2026 T20 World Cup, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed on Sunday. The decision comes amid controversy surrounding the release of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) before the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.

The BCB cited security concerns as the primary reason for the decision. In a formal letter to the International Cricket Council (ICC), the board requested that Bangladesh’s World Cup matches be moved to Sri Lanka. BCB director Khaled Mashud Pilot said, “If they cannot guarantee one player’s safety, how can they ensure the security of the entire team?”

The controversy began after KKR, owned by Shah Rukh Khan, was instructed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to release Mustafizur following political and religious backlash over his presence in the IPL. The BCB has also decided to revoke the NOC granted to Rahman for the IPL and seek a formal explanation from the BCCI.

Bangladesh’s youth and sports adviser, Asif Nazrul, welcomed the decision, calling it a response to the “violent communal policy of the Cricket Board of India.” The team’s T20 World Cup squad has been announced, with Litton Das as captain and Saif Hassan as vice-captain. Mustafizur Rahman remains part of the national squad alongside four other pacers.

The BCB’s decision adds uncertainty to the tournament, which has already shifted the India-Pakistan group stage match to a neutral venue under the ICC’s hybrid model. Bangladesh is scheduled to start its campaign on February 7 against the West Indies in Kolkata and is placed in Group C with Italy, Nepal, England, and the West Indies.