Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram have been proposed as potential alternative venues for Bangladesh to play their matches in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026, hosted by India, according to Cricbuzz.
Bangladesh announced last week that they would not play their T20 World Cup matches in India following the arrival of Mustafizur Rahman. released by his Indian Premier League (IPL) team amid growing tensions between the two countries. Subsequently, Bangladesh “formally requested” the International Cricket Council (ICC) to move its matches to Sri Lanka.
According to a report from Cricbuzz released on Sunday, there is no decision on whether Bangladesh will travel to India to play their scheduled matches.
He said other venues are currently being explored by the ICC and “it is unlikely to be in Sri Lanka, where Bangladesh insists on playing”.
“It is learned that the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) and Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) have been questioned by the ICC and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the co-hosts of the World Cup and the possibility of shifting the Bangladesh matches to Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram is being explored,” the report said.
He noted that neither TNCA nor KCA officials could be reached for comment, but “it is learned that they have expressed their willingness to host the games.”
“TNCA officials reportedly told the ICC and BCCI that they would have no problem as they had eight grounds,” the report added.
In the meantime, NDTV reported that BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia was quoted as saying on Monday that the BCCI had not received any update from the ICC regarding a change of venue for the T20 World Cup matches in Bangladesh, stating that it was a matter of discussion between the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the ICC.
“The BCCI has not received any communication regarding the shifting of Bangladesh matches to Chennai or elsewhere, and this is beyond our control,” he said.
“It is a matter of communication between the BCB and the ICC, since the ICC is the governing body. If the ICC communicates to us a decision regarding a change of venue, the BCCI, as the host, will take necessary action. At present, we are not aware of any such information,” he added.
