The International Cricket Council on Wednesday rejected Bangladesh's demand to shift their matches at next month's Twenty20 World Cup outside India, dismissing any security threat to the team following political tensions between the South Asian neighbours. Uncertainty loomed over the global showpiece after Bangladesh refused to tour India and demanded to play their matches in Sri Lanka, which is co-hosting the tournament. The stalemate prompted an emergency ICC board meeting in which the governing body decided against tinkering with the tournament schedule. "This linkage has no bearing on the tournament's security framework or the conditions governing participation in the T20 World Cup." Pakistan will play their World Cup matches in Sri Lanka in keeping with their policy of not touring India over geopolitical tension between the neighbours.

Source: bd News24 January 22, 2026 07:13 UTC