The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced that their team will not be coming to India to play in the T20 World Cup. The BCB has also written to the ICC requesting that their matches be moved elsewhere from their previous venues in Kolkata and Mumbai. It is being reported that the ICC has already begun the process of relocating the matches from India in light of this situation. Initiatives to create a new schedule are also reportedly underway. However, with Bangladesh refusing to play on Indian soil, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has an alternative plan in place to prevent financial losses.

The T20 World Cup is scheduled for February-March 2026 in India and Sri Lanka. Incidentally, Bangladesh’s matches were scheduled to be played at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, the home ground of KKR. But now, the Bangladesh board is unwilling to send their cricketers to India. Under pressure from the interim government, the Bangladesh Cricket Board has decided not to participate in the T20 World Cup in India. This decision was taken at a BCB meeting on Sunday afternoon in attendance of 17 board directors. They issued a statement expressing doubts about the security situation in India. They also stated that they made this decision in accordance with “the advice of the Bangladesh government.”

Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup matches were scheduled to be held in Kolkata and Mumbai, with their opening match against West Indies at Eden Gardens on February 7. With just a month to go for the tournament to begin, the BCB’s decision throws the schedule into some disarray.

Substantial financial loss for BCCI?

The question is, will the BCCI face financial losses if Bangladesh doesn’t play in India? It’s worth remembering that Bangladesh was scheduled to play three of its four group stage matches in Kolkata. These matches were against West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9, and England on February 14. Their final match was against Nepal on February 17 at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Now, everything depends on the ICC’s decision.

With the World Cup just a month away, relocating so many scheduled matches of Bangladesh is logistically impossible. Airline tickets and hotel bookings have already been made. Another problem is that relocating the matches to Sri Lanka would create significant broadcasting issues. Considering the four matches Bangladesh was scheduled to play at Eden Gardens and Wankhede, it is estimated that over 220,000 tickets would have been sold. If the ticket prices ranged from Rs 100 to 300, the financial loss would be substantial.

Based on ticket sales alone, the estimated loss could be between Rs 7 and 30 crore. This calculation is based on 60 to 90 percent spectator attendance and ticket prices ranging from Rs 500 to 1500. However, if other matches are scheduled on those dates instead of Bangladesh’s matches, the financial loss will be significantly reduced. But now everything depends on the ICC’s new schedule. Only then will it be clear how the situation will unfold.

Will the BCCI suffer loss from ticket sales?

Furthermore, the ICC has certain rules regarding the sale of World Cup tickets. According to these rules, the ownership of the tickets belongs to ICC’s business corporation. In that case, as the organiser of the T20 World Cup, the BCCI will not receive the entire amount. Therefore, the Indian board will not suffer a loss from ticket sales. However, the BCCI could incur losses from local sponsorships and hospitality demands.

On the other hand, if the ICC maintains the number of matches for Team India, the BCCI can avoid a significant financial loss. It remains to be seen whether the ICC will maintain the number of matches for Suryakumar Yadav’s team by changing venues and dates. If that happens, the expenses will be limited to the minimum costs for team accommodation and other arrangements.

Notably, the tension between the two countries over the Mustafizur Rahman issue is evident. In this situation, Bangladesh has already refused to come to India. Following Pakistan’s path, Bangladesh also wants to play in Sri Lanka. But is a hybrid model feasible for Bangladesh overnight? Both the Indian and Bangladeshi cricket boards are awaiting the ICC’s response.

Why did Bangladesh refused to play T20 world cup in India?

Bangladesh has refused to travel to India for the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup, with the BCB expressing concerns around “safety and well-being” of the players in a climate of deteriorating political ties between the two countries. This comes at a time when BCCI instructed IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Mustafizur Rahman.

The BCB issued a statement that reads, “Following a thorough assessment of the prevailing situation and the growing concerns regarding the safety and security of the Bangladesh contingent in India and considering the advice from the Bangladesh Government, the Board of Directors resolved that the Bangladesh National Team will not travel to India for the tournament under the current conditions. In light of this decision, the BCB has formally requested the International Cricket Council (ICC), as the event authority, to consider relocating all of Bangladesh’s matches to a venue outside India.”

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