Not Sri Lanka Or Pakistan, ICC To Suggest These Two New Venues To Bangladesh For T20 World Cup 2026

The International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) remain at odds over venues. With just over three weeks to go until the T20 World Cup begins, there is still uncertainty surrounding where Bangladesh will play its matches. Bangladesh is pushing for a total withdrawal from India, but what started as a security-related concern has now turned into a full-fledged impasse, prompting the ICC and co-host BCCI to search for options within India itself.

The BCB has repeatedly sent formal letters to the ICC requesting that all of Bangladesh's planned matches be moved from India to Sri Lanka, the tournament's co-host. The board has insisted that it is unwilling to send its team to India, given the current situation, citing player safety concerns amid political tensions between Bangladesh and India. The ICC is hesitant to comply with this request, though, according to a Cricbuzz report, especially considering the logistical difficulties of moving games so close to the tournament's opening encounter on February 7.

According to the same Cricbuzz report, the ICC and BCCI are actively looking into venues within India in place of Sri Lanka. Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram have emerged as possible substitute hosts for Bangladesh's matches after the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) and Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) were contacted. Although representatives from both associations could not be contacted right away, it has been learned that they have shown a desire to host the games if necessary.

Seven games, including a possible Super 8 encounter between Australia and India, will take place at Chepauk, which has previously been confirmed as a World Cup venue. With eight pitches available at the venue, TNCA officials reportedly informed the ICC and BCCI that adding more games would not be a problem.

According to the current schedule, Bangladesh will fly to Mumbai to play Nepal on February 17 after playing the West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9, and England on February 14 in Kolkata. But once the BCCI ordered the IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman, those plans were called into question. Bangladesh cited increased security concerns, wrote to the ICC requesting venue modifications, and ultimately banned the IPL broadcast, the first since the league's founding in 2008, as a result of that decision.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has apparently also contacted the ICC, proposing to host Bangladesh's matches if neither India nor Sri Lanka are deemed suitable, adding even another level of complexity to the story. Although the ICC has not yet provided an official confirmation, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has reportedly expressed Pakistan's willingness to step in, according to a Geo News report.

As of now, the ICC has not formally responded to the BCB; this could happen as early as January 12. However, the Bangladesh venue dispute threatens to cast a long shadow over the lead-up to one of cricket's major tournaments as time runs out and opinions solidify.

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