New Delhi: Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) director Faruque Ahmed revealed the board’s decision to not send their team to India for the T20 World Cup 2026 is related to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)’s decision to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. BCB has formally requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to shift their T20 World Cup 2026 matches from India.

BCB wrote to ICC on Sunday, January 04, requesting the cricket governing body to move their matches out of India after BCCI directed Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Mustafizur from their squad ahead of IPL 2026. BCB cited security concerns and said the decision not to play their matches in India was taken on the advice of the Bangladesh government.

“Following a thorough assessment of the prevailing situation and the growing concerns regarding the safety and security of the Bangladesh contingent in India and considering the advice from the Bangladesh Government, the Board of Directors resolved that the Bangladesh National Team will not travel to India for the tournament under the current conditions,” the BCB said in a statement.

BCB director Faruque revealed the exact circumstances that led to the board’s decision not to send their team to India for the marquee tournament. Ahmed argued that the Bangladesh government feels it is not safe for the team to travel to India and play their matches in the country amid the ongoing tensions between the two nations.

Faruque stated that BCCI’s decision to release Mustafizur from IPL 2026 indicated that the Indian cricket board cannot guarantee the player’s safety in India. He said the Bangladesh government thus decided not to send the team to the country as it would be a huge security concern for them.

“BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia released a statement and asked Mustafizur to be released from the KKR squad, probably for security reasons due to tensions between the two nations. Linked to that issue, the Bangladesh team will have to travel to Kolkata. The board functions under the government, and government decisions are very important. We cannot take decisions on our own. The government directs the board, and they asked the cricket board to work accordingly,” BCB director Faruque Ahmed was quoted as saying by India Today.

“If there is a security issue for Mustafizur, then the team will also be travelling to Kolkata and Mumbai. So it is a concern for the government,” he added.

BCB put in a formal request to the ICC to shift their T20 World Cup matches out of India, a day after BCCI asked KKR to release Mustafizur from their squad. The Bangladesh pacer was bought by the franchise for Rs 9. 20 crore in the recently concluded IPL 2026 auction. BCCI’s directive to release the player came after massive outrage on social media over the board allowing a Bangladeshi player to play in the IPL amid reports of attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh.

BCB director Faruque Ahmed agreed that political tensions between the two countries played a role in BCB’s decision to send its team to India for the T20 World Cup 2026. He reiterated that the board cannot risk sending their entire contingent to the country when BCCI cannot guarantee the security of a single player.

“When you see that one player cannot be given security, then it becomes a concern for the entire Bangladesh team and the support staff,” said the BCB director.