8-Point Setback, World Cup Dream Shattered… If Bangladesh Doesn’t Accept ICC’s Condition Regarding India

New Delhi: The International Cricket Council has outright rejected Bangladesh’s demand that it would not play its T20 World Cup matches in India. Bangladesh had requested that its matches be shifted to Sri Lanka. But now the ICC has made it clear that Bangladesh will have to play its T20 World Cup matches in India. The ICC said that if Bangladesh does not comply, its points will be deducted.

Bangladesh Must Come to India
Now, after this stance from the ICC, Bangladesh has only two options. Either it boycotts the entire World Cup or accepts the ICC’s condition and plays the matches in India. If it doesn’t do so, consider its World Cup campaign over. Because it will have to forfeit the points for each of its matches, and the opposing team will get a walkover, meaning they will get two points without playing.

8-Point Setback and the World Cup is Over
If Bangladesh does not tour India, Bangladesh could lose points and may have to give walkovers in all its matches scheduled in India, due to which the other teams will get two points each. Bangladesh has four matches scheduled in the group stage. Although Sri Lanka is a co-host of the tournament, Bangladesh has to play all its group stage matches in India. Three of their four matches will be played in Kolkata, while one match is scheduled in Mumbai. This means they will suffer a loss of 8 points.

Bangladesh’s Group Stage Matches (Group C)

• February 7, 2026: Against West Indies, Eden Gardens, Kolkata (3:00 PM IST)
• February 9, 2026: Against Italy, Eden Gardens, Kolkata (11:00 AM IST)
• February 14, 2026: Against England, Eden Gardens, Kolkata (3:00 PM IST)
• February 17, 2026: Against Nepal, Wankhede Stadium

Now, the full story of the controversy:
Recently, the IPL team KKR released Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman at the behest of the BCCI. When the BCCI released Rahman, the Bangladeshi government also got involved in the controversy. It even threatened to boycott the T20 World Cup starting in India on February 7th. In its letter to the ICC, the Bangladesh Cricket Board stated that it would not play its matches in India and demanded that those matches be shifted to Sri Lanka.

Bangladesh argued that this was necessary for the safety of its players. In retaliation, Bangladesh also banned the broadcasting of the IPL in Bangladesh. However, the ICC has now made it clear that Bangladesh will have to come to India to play its World Cup matches.