Bangladesh is currently placed in Group C... and is scheduled to play its matches in Kolkata and Mumbai.
India Bangladesh Cricket Row: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) to swap their group with Ireland’s in order to allow Bangladesh to play all of their group-stage matches in Sri Lanka, according to a report by NDTV.
The request was made during their meeting on Saturday and is in line with Bangladesh’s desire to shift all of their T20 World Cup matches away from India, the report said.
However, the report noted that Cricket Ireland (CI) has confirmed receiving “assurances” that they will not be moved from the original schedule. CI added that they will be playing all of their World Cup matches in Sri Lanka.
The report further noted that Ireland is placed in Group B alongside Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and Oman.
Bangladesh is currently placed in Group C along with West Indies, Italy, England ,and Nepal, and is scheduled to play its matches in Kolkata and Mumbai.
BCB has made the request, citing the Bangladesh government’s views and concerns regarding the safety and security of the team, Bangladeshi fans, media, and other stakeholders.
These developments come after the BCCI/IPL instructed Shah Rukh Khan’s franchise, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), to release Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman from its squad after some Indians criticised KKR for taking in the Bangladeshi player following communal riots in Bangladesh after the death of a Bangladeshi Youth leader, Sharif Osman Bin Hadi.
Subsequently, the BCB decided not to send its senior men’s cricket team to India for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, marking a deepening strain in diplomatic ties between the two countries.
On January 5, 2026, Bangladesh suspended the broadcast and telecast of all Indian Premier League (IPL) matches and programmes in the country until further notice.
What Experts Said:
Experts had expressed concern that the BCCI’s decision to exclude the Bangladeshi cricketer could undermine India’s foreign policy efforts, including concerns over the two countries deciding to play future matches at a “neutral” venue.
Senior journalist Rajdeep Sardesai, strongly criticising India’s decision to exclude the Bangladeshi player and the possible consequences of the move, had written, “What next? No shaking hands with Bangladesh players during World T 20 next month? Will possible match-up be played in ‘neutral’ venue? Will shops be asked to stop stocking ‘made in Bangladesh’ clothing? and what of power pacts that private companies like Adani have with Dhaka? And the fact that the former PM Sheikh Hasina has been given refuge in India?
“Foreign Policy ad-hocism with one eye on state elections (Assam/Bengal) in a turbulent neighbourhood is injurious to a country’s claim to be a leader of the Global South,” he added.
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor had also expressed concerns, saying, “Who are we punishing here: a nation, an individual, his religion? Where will this mindless politicising of sport lead us?” Tharoor made the statement in a post on his X on January 3, 2026.
Tharoor, while speaking to the media on January 2, 2026, stated that cricket should not be made to bear the burden of attacks on minorities in Bangladesh.
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