BCCI Response: The Bangladesh Cricket Board has been instructed by the Sports Ministry to shift its T20 World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka. This controversy arose after Mustafizur Rahman was dropped from the IPL. A BCCI source has now responded to the Bangladesh Cricket Board in clear terms.

BCCI Response: A new controversy has arisen following Mustafizur Rahman's exclusion from IPL 2026. The Bangladesh Cricket Board received instructions from the Sports Ministry to move their T20 World Cup league matches to Sri Lanka instead of India. They cited player safety concerns. A BCCI source has now issued a befitting reply to Bangladesh Cricket's threat to shift the matches, stating that it's easy to say, but impossible to do so.

Bangladesh Sports Ministry directs BCB

Sports advisor Asif Nazrul took to social media to announce that he had instructed the BCB to shift its World Cup matches to Sri Lanka. He wrote in a Facebook post, "As an advisor to the Sports Ministry, I have asked the cricket board to explain everything to the ICC. The board must make it clear that if Bangladeshi players cannot play in India despite being under contract, then the Bangladeshi team does not feel safe coming to India to play the World Cup. I have asked the board to request the ICC to hold the World Cup matches in Sri Lanka instead of India."

BCCI gave a befitting reply

Bangladesh's three league stage matches in the T20 World Cup are scheduled to be played in Kolkata and one in Mumbai. Speaking to NDTV, a BCCI source said that making changes to the tournament a month in advance is impossible. He said, "You can't change things to suit anyone. It's a very difficult task. You have to consider the opposition teams. Their flights, hotels, and other things are already booked. There will be three matches every day, which means one match will be held in Sri Lanka. The broadcast crew will already be present there. So, it's easier said than done."

What did the BCCI President say?

Following Mustafizur Rahman's removal from the IPL, there were questions about Bangladesh's travel to India to play in the T20 World Cup. Meanwhile, BCCI President Mithun Manhas told IANS, "This decision pertains only to the IPL. We haven't discussed the World Cup yet. We will share details after the discussion."

PC:News24