The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has reiterated its firm stance against playing the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 matches in India, citing significant security concerns and deepening diplomatic tensions between the two nations. This refusal comes less than a month before the tournament, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, is set to begin on February 7, 2026. The core of the dispute escalated following the reported removal of Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL) by his franchise, allegedly under directives from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on January 3, 2026. This move, widely perceived as politically motivated, sparked outrage in Bangladesh and led to the Bangladesh government banning IPL broadcasts. The BCB has formally requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to relocate Bangladesh's group-stage matches from India to alternative venues, preferably co-host Sri Lanka, or even Pakistan or the UAE. Bangladesh's Sports Advisor Asif Nazrul emphasized that the issue is not merely about security but also national dignity, highlighting a perceived 'deteriorating security environment' for their team in India. However, the ICC has reportedly rejected the plea for an outright venue shift outside India, citing the already finalized tournament itinerary and substantial logistical challenges of a last-minute change. While the ICC has urged Bangladesh to reconsider its position, its independent security assessments have indicated 'low to moderate risks' in some venues and 'low to nil' in others, concluding no specific or heightened threat to the Bangladeshi team. The ICC has also cautioned that Bangladesh risks forfeiting crucial points if it refuses to play its scheduled matches in India. Amidst this standoff, reports suggest the ICC and BCCI are exploring options to move Bangladesh's matches to alternative venues *within* India, such as Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram, instead of the initially scheduled Kolkata and Mumbai. Furthermore, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has also offered to host Bangladesh's matches if Sri Lankan venues prove unfeasible. The cricketing row is deeply intertwined with a broader diplomatic downturn between India and Bangladesh, marked by political upheaval in Bangladesh and mutual accusations over minority issues. With the tournament looming, the unresolved dispute presents a significant challenge for international cricket.