DUBAI (Dunya News) – The International Cricket Council has confirmed that the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will be held according to the existing schedule, with Bangladesh’s matches set to take place in India as originally planned.
The decision was taken following an ICC Board meeting on Wednesday, during which a request from the Bangladesh Cricket Board to shift its fixtures to Sri Lanka was formally considered. After reviewing the matter, the governing body ruled that there was no basis to alter the approved venues or timetable.
An ICC spokesperson said comprehensive security assessments and independent evaluations had found no credible threat to Bangladeshi players, team officials, media personnel or supporters at any of the designated venues. The spokesperson added that with the tournament approaching, changes to the schedule were no longer feasible and that any alteration without verified security concerns could undermine the neutrality of future ICC events.
According to the ICC, the Board remained in continuous and constructive dialogue with the BCB throughout the process. These discussions included detailed briefings on the tournament’s security framework, venue-specific arrangements and the support to be provided by local law enforcement agencies in India.
The ICC spokesperson further clarified that the BCB’s request was linked to a separate incident involving the participation of a Bangladeshi player in a domestic league. The matter, the ICC said, had no connection with the security protocols or risk assessments established for the World Cup.
The ICC has confirmed that the Men’s #T20WorldCup fixtures will proceed as scheduled. Details https://t.co/PvpW5NJ1eI
— ICC (@ICC) January 21, 2026The governing body stressed that all scheduling and venue decisions were based on assurances provided by the host nation and on maintaining equal conditions for all 20 participating teams. Without any verifiable security risk, relocating matches would not only create logistical and scheduling complications but could also compromise the ICC’s long-standing position of neutrality.
Reaffirming its stance, the ICC said it remained committed to upholding consistent standards in the best interests of global cricket. It underlined that transparency, fairness and uniformity across all participating nations were central to the organisation’s approach to major tournaments.
ICC rejects Bangladesh's request to skip India for T20 World Cup
Media reports have suggested that the ICC has informed the BCB to clearly communicate its final position to the government, noting that failure to send the team to India could result in Bangladesh being replaced in the tournament. The ICC is understood to have granted the Bangladesh board an additional day to consider its decision regarding participation in India.