Bangladesh refuses to play World Cup matches in IndiaCEFR B1
19 Jan 2026
Adapted from Zulker Naeen, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Refat Ul Islam, Unsplash
The 2026 T20 World Cup dispute involves sport, security and diplomacy after Bangladesh refused to play matches scheduled in India. The row began when the BCCI told Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad for security reasons, and Bangladesh did not accept that explanation.
An independent ICC risk assessment, leaked and confirmed in January 2026, described the threat as "moderate" and said the risk to Bangladeshi nationals and supporters could be "moderate to high, particularly those wearing team colours and travelling in isolated groups to the stadium." Bangladesh officials argued that if a board cannot guarantee safety for one player, it is hard to trust security for the whole delegation, including journalists and fans.
Relations between Bangladesh and India have worsened since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left for India in August 2024, and there have been violent incidents targeting Bangladeshi diplomatic facilities. Local politics and upcoming West Bengal elections add to concerns, because Kolkata will host several of Bangladesh’s group matches.
Difficult words
- dispute — a disagreement or argument between groups
- pacer — a fast bowler in cricket
- risk assessment — a report that describes possible dangers
- leak — to make secret information public without permissionleaked
- delegation — a group of people representing a country
- supporter — a person who supports a team or personsupporters
- diplomacy — managing relations between countries or governments
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How could security concerns affect fans who want to travel to matches in another country?
- Do you think it was reasonable for Bangladesh to refuse to play matches in India because of safety worries? Explain your opinion.
- What steps could organisers take to help visiting teams, journalists and fans feel safer at matches?
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