Bangladesh Raises Security Concerns for T20 World Cup 2026 in India After Mustafizur’s KKR Exit

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is likely to make an official request to the ICC to shift its T20 World Cup 2026 matches from India to Sri Lanka, as a consequence of the removal of Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) IPL 2026 side. Mustafizur Rahman, who has been picked for an astonishing Rs 9.20 crore, the highest price paid for a Bangladeshi player in the IPL till date, has left yet another cricketing relationship between India and Bangladesh at stake.

Bangladesh Cricket Board Pushes ICC for T20 World Cup 2026 Venue Shift After Mustafizur Rahman’s KKR Exit

The political ties haven’t been as adverse as they are now, under Bangladesh’s current anti-Indian stance. The atrocities meted out against some of the Bangladesh Hindus have filled a section of Indians with utter disdain, leading to them protesting against Mustafizur being included in the IPL. This has escalated into international cricketing affairs, with imminent repercussions coming forward for Bangladesh in their T20 World Cup 2026 qualification games. The major tournament will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, from February 7 onwards.

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Bangladesh Founded: 1972

The Bangladesh National Cricket Team, also known as the Tigers or Bangla Tigers, is a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) since 1977.

This came as a result of an emergency meeting between the directors of the BCB held in Sylhet over the weekend. In a report by Cricbuzz, the directors from the BCB plan to request an explanation from the ICC regarding the safety of the Bangladeshi players, members of the tournament staff, journalists, sponsors, and fans who may travel to take part in the tournament. Another request that they plan to get from the BCCI is an explanation for the departure of Mustafizur from the KKR side, having been chosen during the IPL 2026 auction.

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Mustafizur Rahman Bowler

Mustafizur Rahman is a wily left-arm pacer that foxes batters with his ever growing arsenal of slower deliveries and cutters.

“We are sending a letter to ICC asking them to include three conditions in it. First, we would like to ask them about Mustafizur (not included in IPL), and secondly, what is our security arrangement in the World Cup? More because not just our players are travelling to India, but along with our players, our media, our fans, and our sponsors will also be travelling to India to witness the World Cup. Those who will be travelling there, what will be their security status?” a top BCB official told Cricbuzz.

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Kolkata Knight Riders Founded: 2008

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) is a cricket team in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The interim Bangladeshi government’s Youth and Sports Adviser, Dr Asif Nazrul, reacted to this development with ire. He said:

“The players would not feel secure in India if any one player is taken out of the Indian Premier League on the grounds of what is known as 'recent developments’ by the BCCI. I asked the BCB to ask the ICC to shift the match to be held in Sri Lanka. I also advised the broadcasting ministry to withdraw transmission of the Indian Premier League.”

“‘As the adviser to oversee Sports Ministry matters, I told the Cricket Board to give explanations to ICC regarding this entire situation. The Cricket Board needs to convey to ICC that if a Bangladeshi cricketer does not feel safe to play in India while being contracted with an Indian league, then it is unacceptable that our entire cricket team does not feel safe to play in the World Cup to be held in Sri Lanka,’ Dr. Asif told through his official Facebook account."

He further added, 

“I have asked the Information and Broadcasting Adviser to halt the transmission of the IPL in Bangladesh. Under all circumstances, we cannot tolerate any humiliation of cricketing in Bangla-Desh, cricketing professionals of Bangla-Desh, and Bangla-Desh itself.”

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Matheesha Pathirana Bowler

Matheesha Pathirana is a young Sri Lankan right-arm fast bowler, nicknamed "Baby Malinga" for his unique, slinging action, known for his deadly yorkers and explosive pace, who recently made headlines by signing with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for a significant sum in the IPL 2026 auction, moving from his previous franchise, Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

Though there are options available in place of KKR, they definitely have plans for Mustafizur in mind, as they splurged over nine crore rupees for him. Going without Fizz in the mix, the only overseas pacer in the list of KKR players left, along with Matheesha Pathirana, who is an injury asset.

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Cummins, Hazlewood to miss Pakistan series, World Cup inclusion subject to fitness Australia’s build-up to the T20 World Cup, which includes the three-match T20I series against Pakistan in January, will see several top players missing out.

by mishaalmubarak January 4, 2026