DHAKA: The Bangla­desh Cricket Board (BCB) has had “constructive” dis­­cussions with the Inter­national Cricket Council over moving their Twen­­ty20 World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka, the country’s governing body said on Saturday.

Uncertainty looms over Bangladesh’s participation in the Twenty20 World Cup following an earlier request by the BCB to the ICC to move their World Cup matches out of India over safety concerns amid political tensions.

Bangladesh are in World Cup Group ‘C’ and will play West Indies, England and Italy in Kolkata before facing Nepal in Mumbai.

The February 7-March 8 tournament will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

BCB and ICC officials met in Dhaka on Saturday.

“During the discussions, the BCB reiterated its formal request to the ICC to relocate Bangladesh’s matches to Sri Lanka,” the BCB said in a statement.

“The Board also shared the Bangladesh government’s views and concerns on safety and security of the team, Bangladeshi fans, media and other stakeholders.”

Tensions have heightened in recent weeks bet­ween Hindu-majority Ind­ia and Muslim-majority Bangladesh.

Hundreds pro­tested near Bangla­desh’s High Commission in New Delhi last month after a Hindu factory worker was beaten and set on fire in Bang­ladesh’s Mymen­singh district over allegations of blasphemy.

Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2026