Bangladesh refuses to play World Cup matches in IndiaCEFR A2
19 Jan 2026
Adapted from Zulker Naeen, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Refat Ul Islam, Unsplash
Bangladesh has refused to play matches in India for the 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup because of safety fears and rising political tensions. The dispute started after the BCCI told Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad for security reasons.
An independent ICC risk assessment, which was leaked and confirmed in January 2026, described the threat as "moderate" and warned there could be higher risk for Bangladeshi supporters in certain situations. Bangladesh officials say that if one player cannot be guaranteed safe, then the whole team, support staff, journalists and fans cannot be confident about going to India.
Difficult words
- refuse — Say no; decide not to do somethingrefused
- security — Actions to keep people and places safe
- tension — Feeling of anger or worry between groupstensions
- dispute — A disagreement or argument between people
- assessment — A careful report about a situation or risk
- guarantee — Say or promise something will be safeguaranteed
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Would you go to a game in another country if you felt it might be unsafe? Why or why not?
- What can organisers do to make supporters feel safer when there are tensions?
- How do you feel when you hear about safety risks for players and fans?
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