Yunus’s Bangladesh will not send a cricket team to India! BCB informs Jay Shah and the ICC

New Delhi : The Bangladesh Cricket Board has sparked a new row over the release of Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman from IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), owned by Shahrukh Khan. The move followed a BCCI directive issued on January 3, 2026, citing political tensions and concerns over minority safety in Bangladesh. In retaliation, the BCB has announced n January 4, 2026, that it will not send the Bangladesh national team to play matches in India for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 (co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka).

Until recently, it was confirmed that Bangladesh would play their matches on Indian soil. However, after the Mustafizur episode, the BCB has taken a firm stand. Citing security concerns, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has made it clear that it is not possible to send the Bangladesh team to India, and reports say they have also emailed the ICC regarding this matter. The Yunus-led Bangladesh Cricket Board has informed the Jay Shah–headed International Cricket Council (ICC) that they do not want to send their team to India due to security reasons.

Earlier, on Sunday at 1 PM, all 17 directors of the Bangladesh Cricket Board held an online meeting together, where this decision was taken. One BCB director questioned, “If they cannot ensure the safety of one of our cricketers, how will they ensure the safety of the entire team?” Echoing the tone of Bangladesh’s “new friend” Pakistan under the Yunus administration, Dhaka is now saying that if their team plays, it will only play in Sri Lanka.

Further, Bangladesh government’s Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul wrote on Facebook, “As the adviser in charge of the Sports Ministry, I have instructed the Cricket Board to inform the ICC of the entire matter in writing.” For now, cricket fans are watching closely to see what steps Jay Shah’s ICC takes regarding the issue.

Meanwhile, after hearing the BCB’s stance, sources within the BCCI has privately stated that changing venues just a month before the World Cup would be logistically very difficult if the Bangladesh team makes such a request. It would not only affect the Bangladesh team, but also cause inconvenience to their opponent teams. In this context, the BCCI has said that flight tickets and hotel bookings for all teams have already been completed. Additionally, the broadcasting crew would face difficulties. In such a situation, the BCCI has conveyed that it would be hard to accept the BCB’s demands.