By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Bangladesh have refused to travel to India for the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup amid growing tensions between the countries, Bangladesh’s cricket board (BCB) said on Sunday.
Bangladesh are scheduled to play three Twenty20 World Cup matches in Kolkata next month, with the February 7 to March 8 tournament being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, but the BCB said they are worried about their players’ safety.
“The board believes that such a step is necessary to safeguard the safety and well-being of Bangladeshi players, team officials, board members and other stakeholders and to ensure that the team can participate in the tournament in a secure and appropriate environment,” a statement said.
The move threatens to bring chaos to the tournament that has already been affected by the political tensions between India and Pakistan.
Bangladesh are due to play all four of their group-stage matches in India, including on the opening day against West Indies and against England in Kolkata on 14 February.
The killing of a Hindu man during violent protests in Bangladesh pushed strained ties between Bangladesh and India into a deeper crisis.
The man was accused of blasphemy and beaten to death by a mob in Muslim-majority Bangladesh in an episode that resulted in protests by Hindu nationalist groups in India.