International Cricket Thread

The developments come against the backdrop of soured political relations between India and Bangladesh after a mass uprising in Dhaka in 2024 toppled then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina, a close ally of New Delhi.

India’s foreign ministry last month condemned what it called “unremitting hostility against minorities” in Muslim-majority Bangladesh.

Bangladesh’s interim leader, Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, has accused India of exaggerating the scale of the violence.

Last year, the ICC allowed India to play Champions Trophy matches in the United Arab Emirates due to soured relations with hosts Pakistan.

Pakistan will also play all their matches of the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka, as part of a deal that allows both India and Pakistan to play at neutral venues in multi-nation tournaments.

On Sunday, cricket news site Cricbuzz reported that the BCB would ask the BCCI for a formal explanation regarding Mustafizur’s release.

The ICC and BCB did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.
 
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Bangladesh’s cricket board said on Tuesday it had repeated its refusal to travel to India for next month’s T20 World Cup during talks with the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Bangladesh announced on Jan 4 that it would not play its T20 World Cup matches in India after its player Mustafizur Rahman was released by his Indian Premier League (IPL) team amid growing tensions between the two countries. Subsequently, Bangladesh “formally requested” the ICC to shift their games to Sri Lanka.

The World Cup begins on February 7, with Bangladesh scheduled to play their four group matches in India.

On Tuesday, during a video conference with the ICC, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said it had “reiterated its request for the ICC to consider relocating Bangladesh’s matches outside India”.

“The BCB reaffirmed its position regarding the decision not to travel to India, citing security concerns,” the board said in a statement.

“While the ICC highlighted that the tournament itinerary has already been announced and requested the BCB to reconsider its stance, the Board’s position remains unchanged.”

The ICC has not commented.

The BCB said discussions with the ICC continue to “explore possible solutions”, it added, but that it “remains committed to safeguarding the well-being of its players, officials and staff”.

Bangladesh, led by Litton Das, are placed ninth in the ICC T20 rankings. They have played all nine editions of the tournament, but have never qualified for the semi-finals.
 

No handshake between India, Bangladesh at toss during U-19 WC match​


News Desk
January 17, 2026

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Bangladesh’s acting captain Zawad Abrar and India’s captain Ayush Mhatre are pictured during the toss of a U-19 World Cup match in Bulwayo. — Screenshot via Star Sports/X
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaMc238IiRov8okfYy3n
Tensions between India and Bangladesh were apparant on Saturday as the two sides skipped the customary handshake between the captains during the toss of a U-19 World Cup match in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

Bangladesh’s acting captain Zawad Abrar and India’s captain Ayush Mhatre did not do the customary handshake at the pre-match toss, which the former won.

Dhaka-based Prothom Alo reported that it was “unclear which team’s decision it was to not follow the handshake tradition”.

It is worth mentioning that Indian cricketers had refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts during last year’s Asia Cup matches, in the aftermath of a military conflict between the two countries.

Saturday’s development comes as Bangladesh has announced that it will not play its T20 World Cup matches in India after its player Mustafizur Rahman was released by his Indian Premier League (IPL) team.
 

Bangladesh face deadline over refusal to play T20 World Cup matches in India​

AFP
January 19, 2026

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has told Bangladesh to agree to play their matches at next month’s T20 World Cup in India or risk being kicked out of the tournament, reports said on Monday.

Bangladesh announced on Jan 4 that it would not play its T20 World Cup matches in India after its player Mustafizur Rahman was released by his Indian Premier League (IPL) team amid growing tensions between the two countries. Subsequently, Bangladesh “formally requested” the ICC to shift their games to Sri Lanka.

The T20 World Cup begins on February 7 with Bangladesh in England’s Group C and scheduled to play all of their group matches in Kolkata and Mumbai.

The BCB held talks in Dhaka at the weekend with ICC officials over the impasse, but no agreement was reached.

“During the discussions, the BCB reiterated its formal request to the ICC to relocate Bangladesh’s matches to Sri Lanka,” a BCB statement said.

ICC have not officially commented, but website Cricinfo and other Indian media reported on Monday that the deadline of Wednesday had been set for Dhaka to make a decision.

ICC sources have told AFP that Bangladesh could be replaced by Scotland, who are the highest-ranked team who did not qualify for the World Cup.

One suggestion was for Bangladesh to swap with Group B’s Ireland, whose matches are in Sri Lanka.

“Among other points, the possibility of moving Bangladesh to a different group as a means of facilitating the matter with minimum logistical adjustments was discussed,” said the BCB.

Pakistan will play all their matches in Colombo under an ICC agreement with India to play at neutral venues in global or regional tournaments.
 

T20 World Cup: Naqvi rues unfair treatment of Bangladesh, says ‘one country cannot dictate another’​


Dawn Sport
January 24, 2026

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Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi addresses a press conference in Lahore. — DawnNewsTV/File

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday said that Bangladesh, which has refused to play the T20 World Cup scheduled in India, was being treated unfairly and should be allowed to participate in the tournament.

Naqvi, who is also the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, made the remarks while speaking to the Lahore.

Bangladesh had announced on Jan 4 that it would not play its T20 World Cup matches in India after its player Mustafizur Rahman was released by his Indian Premier League (IPL) team amid growing tensions between the two countries. Subsequently, Bangladesh had “formally requested” the ICC to shift their games to Sri Lanka.

Subsequently, the ICC rejected the country’s request to shift its games. However, Bangladesh has insisted it will not travel to India for the tournament, effectively ruling the country out of the tournament.

It is also worth mentioning that reports have emerged regarding Scotland replacing Bangladesh in the tournament.
 
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