Bangladesh captain Litton Das said he is unsure if the team will play in next month’s T20 World Cup amid the ongoing dispute over the team’s refusal to travel to India due to security concerns.

Bangladesh Captain Litton Das Questions T20 World Cup Participation Amid Security Issues

Bangladesh captain Litton Das said he is unsure if the team will play in next month&rsquo;s T20 World Cup amid the ongoing dispute over the team&rsquo;s refusal to travel to India due to security concerns.

Bangladesh captain Litton Das said he is "not sure" whether his country would be competing in next month's T20 World Cup amid the prolonged tussle over the team's refusal to play its games in India.&nbsp;
Bangladesh have declined to travel to India citing security concerns after pacer Mustafizur Rahman's ouster from the IPL on BCCI instructions. The diplomatic ties between the two countries are also tense right now due to attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh.&nbsp;
"If we had known who our group opponents were (in the World Cup) or which country we were going to, that would have helped," Das was quoted as saying by 'ESPNCricinfo' after his franchise Rangpur Riders' exit from the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) on Tuesday.&nbsp;
"You have seen that we have announced the squad, but until now, no player knows which country we are going to or whom we will play against. Like me, the whole of Bangladesh is now uncertain." Bangladesh have demanded that their share of matches be shifted to Sri Lanka. Das, when pressed on the subject, threw a counter-question.&nbsp;
"Are you sure that we are going to the World Cup?. In reality, there is still a long time left before the World Cup, and we are not even sure whether we will go or not," he said. He, however, side-stepped queries on the currently high political tensions between India and Bangladesh. But he insisted that players will adapt to any decision taken by the Cricket Board.&nbsp;
"Many things in life are not ideal, but you have to accept them according to the situation. Playing so many matches in the BPL was not ideal either, but we still had to play," he said.&nbsp;

The Pakistan Cricket Board reportedly supported Bangladesh’s decision to skip its T20 World Cup group-stage matches in India due to “security concerns,” ahead of the ICC Board meeting to finalize participation.

PCB Supports Bangladesh's Decision to Skip T20 WC Matches in India

The Pakistan Cricket Board reportedly supported Bangladesh&rsquo;s decision to skip its T20 World Cup group-stage matches in India due to &ldquo;security concerns,&rdquo; ahead of the ICC Board meeting to finalize participation.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has reportedly backed Bangladesh's stance of refusing to play its T20 World Cup matches in India due to "security concerns" in a communication to the ICC.
The ICC Board is scheduled to meet on Wednesday to take a final call on Bangladesh's participation in the T20 World Cup, including whether the team will travel to India for the tournament starting February 7.
Bangladesh are slated to play all four of their group-stage matches in India, with the first three scheduled in Kolkata and the remaining one in Mumbai.
However, the Bangladesh Cricket Board, supported by its government, has remained adamant and sought a shift of its matches to co-hosts Sri Lanka.
On the eve of the ICC meeting, the PCB wrote to the global body stating that it supports the BCB's stance, citing political instability in the region and has copied all ICC Board members on the letter, according to 'ESPNCricinfo'.
The ICC and the BCB have held multiple discussions on the issue, including a meeting in Dhaka last weekend, but neither side has changed its position.
While the ICC has insisted that the tournament be held as per schedule, the BCB has maintained that it cannot send their team to India.
The PCB has not made any public comment on the matter although Board sources have said that the Bangladesh government had contacted Pakistan for support in the ICC.
Pakistan will be playing all their matches in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model agreement with the BCCI and ICC till 2027.
The crisis related to Bangladesh began after Kolkata Knight Riders released pacer Mustafizur Rahman following a directive from the BCCI, which referred to "recent developments all around".
Subsequently, the Bangladesh government banned the broadcast of the IPL, and the BCB formally informed the ICC of its decision of not playing World Cup matches in India.

India begin their five-match T20I series against New Zealand in Nagpur, with skipper Suryakumar Yadav under pressure to rediscover form ahead of the T20 World Cup title defence.

India vs New Zealand T20I Series: Suryakumar Yadav's Leadership Amid Batting Struggles

India begin their five-match T20I series against New Zealand in Nagpur, with skipper Suryakumar Yadav under pressure to rediscover form ahead of the T20 World Cup title defence.

Skipper Suryakumar Yadav would want the attacking batter in him to front up and bolster his leadership against New Zealand when the five-match T20I series gets underway in Nagpur on Wednesday, serving as a final dress rehearsal for India's World Cup title defence in less than three weeks' time.
Since Suryakumar took over as India's T20 skipper in 2024, the results have been stunningly good with a winning percentage of more than 72 per cent. It papered over the skipper's woeful form with the willow for quite a while but not anymore.
The Indian T20 outfit has been on autopilot mode during the last two years with an odd defeat here and there being small blemishes for a crack team made up of top quality IPL performers knowing their roles to the 'T'.
However, the pressure of playing at home amid expectations that India become the first ever team to defend its title will weigh heavily on Suryakumar's mind going into the New Zealand series.
New Zealand, in the past one year, has achieved many firsts, including a Test series whitewash and a first ever bilateral ODI series win in India.
But when it comes to T20Is, India under Suryakumar have been a different beast having won 18 out of 25 games, largely due to Abhishek Sharma's blazing starts and Varun Chakravarthy's bamboozling performances in middle overs of opposition innings.
New Zealand have won 13 out of their 21 T20Is post the 2024 T20 World Cup.
With Devon Conway, skipper Mitchell Santner, world's premier T20I seamer Jacob Duffy and the duo of Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips in their ranks, New Zealand are as strong an opposition as one can expect.
It also means that the defending champions will get to make perfect World Cup preparations.
In this backdrop, it is Indian skipper Suryakumar, whose poor form has been the weak link of a formidable team.
Unarguably, 2025 was his worst in India colours with only 218 runs from 19 games without a single fifty and a strike rate of 123 plus.
It made matters worse that he got himself down to No.4 in order to allow Tilak Varma to get a longer run at No.3.
Bowlers across the globe have found out that straight deliveries at hard lengths can keep him quiet and conjectures about the state of his right wrist have only made things difficult.
A non-performing captain slowly loses respect of the dressing room and that is the last thing that the man from Mumbai's Chembur would want going into the T20 World Cup.
 Shreyas or Ishan?
In any other country, a player of Shreyas Iyer's calibre would have been an automatic choice in a T20I set up, having led three separate franchises to IPL finals and winning once.
The best player of spinners in this Indian set-up, Iyer's lucky break has come due to in-form Tilak Varma's abdominal surgery.
It still isn't clear if Tilak would recover in time for the marquee event but presence of Iyer at No.4 would give Suryakumar a chance to bat at a familiar No.3 slot.
However, if one takes into account that Tilak is a left-hander then Ishan Kishan, currently in red hot form, could also make a case for himself.
Kishan is someone who won't be effective beyond No.3 as he is more of an enforcer within powerplay overs but for the skipper's own sake, he would do better batting at that slot.
 Return of Hardik, Bumrah and Varun
The T20 series also marks the return of all-rounder Hardik Pandya and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah after some well-earned rest during the ODI series.
Pandya brings in the balance to the T20 side with his skills and his presence means the team management can afford to play an extra specialist.
They will be joined by Varun Chakravarthy, the biggest "X" factor in this set up whom the New Zealanders haven't played much.
Varun's four overs between 7th to 15th often turn the match on its head and with Kuldeep Yadav being in indifferent form, the Tamil Nadu man would need to step up even more.
Varun's battles against Mitchell and Phillips will decide the fate of the series.
For New Zealand pacer bowling all-rounder Kristian Clarke, who claimed seven wickets including Virat Kohli twice across the three games of the recent ODI series, wil stay for the T20 series as both Michael Bracewell and Adam Milne are nursing niggles.
Teams (From):
India: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Rinku Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshit Rana.
New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (captain), Devon Conway, Bevon Jacobs, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Tim Robinson, Jimmy Neesham, Ish Sodi, Zak Foulkes, Mark Chapman, Michael Bracewell, Rachin Ravindra, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, Kristian Clarke.
Match Starts 7 pm.

BCCI plans to simplify central contracts by removing the A+ category. Senior stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma could move to Grade B under the proposed system.

BCCI may scrap top-tier A+ contracts; Rohit, Kohli likely to be shifted to Grade B

BCCI plans to simplify central contracts by removing the A+ category. Senior stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma could move to Grade B under the proposed system.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly planning to revise its central contract system, with the top-tier Grade A+ category likely to be discontinued.&nbsp;
If the new model is approved, senior players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are expected to be placed in Grade B, according to sources within the BCCI.
The proposal comes from the selection committee, headed by Ajit Agarkar, which has recommended scrapping the A+ category, currently valued at ₹7 crore per year, and retaining only three categories: A, B, and C. Further details on the monetary adjustments and final approval by the board are expected at the next BCCI apex council meeting.
Under the existing system, BCCI central contracts are annual retainers awarded to Indian cricketers, classified into A+, A, B, and C grades, in addition to match fees. The 2024-25 contracts, announced in April 2025, placed Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jasprit Bumrah in A+. Players including Mohammed Siraj, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami, and Rishabh Pant were in Grade A, while T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shreyas Iyer were in Grade B.
Grade C contracts currently cover players such as Rinku Singh, Tilak Verma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar, Mukesh Kumar, Sanju Samson, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Rajat Patidar, Dhruv Jurel, Sarfaraz Khan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma, Akash Deep, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Harshit Rana.
The selection committee&rsquo;s recommendations aim to simplify the contract structure, though final approval and implementation are pending.

India’s T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav, along with Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Rinku Singh, and Ravi Bishnoi, went on a jungle safari at Pench Tiger Reserve, spotting leopards and wildlife ahead of the India-New Zealand T20 series.

Captain Suryakumar, other players enjoy jungle safari at Pench ahead of Nagpur T20 vs NZ

India&rsquo;s T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav, along with Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Rinku Singh, and Ravi Bishnoi, went on a jungle safari at Pench Tiger Reserve, spotting leopards and wildlife ahead of the India-New Zealand T20 series.

India's T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav along with four other members of the team went on a jungle safari in the Pench Tiger Reserve on Monday ahead of the opening match of the five-game series with New Zealand beginning at Nagpur on January 21.
Besides Yadav, wicketkeepers Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, batter Rinku Singh, and spinner Ravi Bishnoi enjoyed the jungle safari during a private visit to the reserve which straddles Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, an MP forest department official said.
Pench Tiger Reserve Field Director J Deva Prasad told PTI that the players arrived in Seoni on Saturday night and stayed at a resort. After undertaking the jungle safari on Monday morning, Team India's T20 stars left for Nagpur at around noon.
Another forest department official stated that during the safari, the players spotted leopards and other wildlife, but did not see a tiger. The cricketers went around the reserve in an open jeep and posed for photographs with fans, and accepted their greetings.
Pench wildlife photographer Rituraj Rahi Jaiswal said when the players returned to Nagpur for the first T20 match, he presented skipper Yadav an annual calendar with photographs depicting tigers, leopards, and other wildlife.
The players who visited Pench also shared photos and videos of their jungle safari on various social media platforms.
Yadav previously visited the Pench Tiger Reserve on February 15, 2025, an official said.
Batting legend and Bharat Ratna awardee Sachin Tendulkar visited the popular reserve, home to a wide range of wildlife such as tigers, chital, leopards, and sloth bears, with his family in 2023.
The three-match ODI series against New Zealand ended in Indore on Sunday with India losing the rubber 2-1. The focus has now shifted to the five-match T20 series with the first encounter between the two teams taking place at Nagpur on Wednesday.

The ICC has reportedly asked the Bangladesh Cricket Board to confirm by January 21 whether it will send the team to India for the 2026 T20 World Cup, with a replacement team under consideration.

Play in India or get replaced: ICC sets deadline for Bangladesh ahead of T20 World Cup

The ICC has reportedly asked the Bangladesh Cricket Board to confirm by January 21 whether it will send the team to India for the 2026 T20 World Cup, with a replacement team under consideration.

The ICC has asked the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to decide on its participation in the T20 World Cup in India by January 21 or "risk being replaced by another team" in the tournament beginning February 7.
Despite the back and forth between ICC and BCB, no solution has been found to the crisis that was triggered by the removal of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the 2026 Indian Premier League on BCCI's instructions for unspecified "developments all around."
"The BCB officials have been told to decide on the participation by January 21. If they refuse to travel to India, then they should be ready to be replaced by another team as per rankings," said an ICC source.
Citing security concerns and national pride, the BCB has announced that its national team won't be travelling to India for its group games in Kolkata and Mumbai. However, with the event schedule already finalised, the ICC has shown reluctance to shift Bangladesh's games to co-host Sri Lanka, where the marquee India-Pakistan clash will be held as per the mutually agreed arrangement for ICC events till 2027.
In case Bangladesh continues to be unyielding, the replacement team would most likely be Scotland based on current rankings. Bangladesh are scheduled to play three league games in Kolkata and one in Mumbai.
The BCB has remained adamant on either a change of venue or a change of groups to facilitate its games in Sri Lanka. Bangladesh are currently placed in Group C along with the West Indies, Italy, England and Nepal.
In their last meeting with ICC officials in Dhaka, the BCB proposed that Bangladesh be swapped with Ireland in Group B alongside Sri Lanka, Australia, Oman and Zimbabwe. Such a move would allow the team to be based completely in Sri Lanka for all its league engagements.
"...the possibility of moving Bangladesh to a different group as a means of facilitating the matter with minimum logistical adjustments was discussed," the BCB had stated after the meeting on Saturday.
While the BCB considers it unsafe for its players to travel to India, ICC's risk assessment report does not flag any specific or direct threat to the team if it participates in the tournament.
Bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh have deteriorated with the killings of Hindus in Bangladesh. Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal and current Test skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto have cautioned against a very hard-line approach on the controversial subject, with the former saying that decisions taken today would have repercussions 10 years down the line.

India captain Shubman Gill reflected on the first-ever home bilateral ODI series defeat to New Zealand, highlighting missed batting conversions, fielding lapses, and emerging talent Harshit Rana as a bright spot.

India Faces First Home ODI Series Defeat Against New Zealand

India captain Shubman Gill reflected on the first-ever home bilateral ODI series defeat to New Zealand, highlighting missed batting conversions, fielding lapses, and emerging talent Harshit Rana as a bright spot.

India's first-ever bilateral ODI series defeat at home against New Zealand was not just a statistical jolt but a moment of uncomfortable clarity, and skipper Shubman Gill did not hide behind the margin of defeat or missing personnel.
Speaking after the loss in the series-deciding game in Indore on Sunday, the India captain instead laid bare a pattern that, in his words, "made the difference between the two teams".
"For me, it wasn't that we didn't bat well. It was that we didn't bat long enough. When batsmen are getting starts and they're not able to convert those starts, especially in high-scoring matches, it becomes very difficult. At least two batters need to go on and play that long innings," said Gill after the 41-run defeat at Holkar Stadium. "That was the difference between them and us."
The inability to turn promising starts into match-defining scores haunted India throughout the series, including in Indore where Virat Kohli's century briefly threatened to swing the momentum back.
Gill repeatedly returned to the contrast with New Zealand's approach. "Whenever their batsmen got set, they scored long. That's the difference. Even in the first two matches, I got set, but I wasn't able to convert it into 100, 120 or 130, and that's something we need to get better at as a batting unit."
The conversation then inevitably turned to Ravindra Jadeja, whose returns with both bat and ball have dipped over the last two to three years. Gill was quick to contextualise the all-rounder's struggles rather than isolate them.
"Jaddu bhai was looking in good touch with the bat. But it wasn't just him. I don't think any of our batsmen were able to consistently convert the starts we were getting. On pitches like these, if you don't make those starts count, you&rsquo;re always chasing the game."
Gill also acknowledged that Jadeja's wicket-taking impact &mdash; once a cornerstone of India's ODI dominance &mdash; hasn't been the same recently.
"The way he has been bowling in the past couple of years, he has always been a strike option for us. It's unfortunate he couldn't pick as many wickets as he would have liked, but that happens in series like these. You learn from it and you grow."
India's fielding lapses emerged as another decisive factor, especially as overseas teams continue to narrow the gap in Indian conditions. Gill admitted that missed chances shifted momentum at critical moments.
"We dropped some catches at very important stages of the game. On wickets like these, bowlers are trying to force chances, and when those catches don't stick, it's not easy. No one drops a catch intentionally, but it's one area we really have to improve."
While Rohit Sharma's modest returns across the series &mdash; 61 runs &mdash; drew scrutiny, Gill backed his senior opener's intent and approach.
"He has been in very good form. You won't always be able to convert the starts you get. As a batsman, you always want to make it into hundreds, but that doesn't happen every time. That's impossible. What's important is that the intent and rhythm are there."
 Harshit Rana is a great prospect for future
Amid the disappointment, Gill highlighted a positive that could shape India's future ODI balance &mdash; the rise of Harshit Rana as a lower-order batting option.
"Batting at number eight is a very important position for us. All the top teams in the world bat really deep. We want to give opportunities to players who can strengthen that depth, and Harshit is someone who is constantly improving his batting."
Gill went further, underlining why Rana excites the team management.
"You don't get too many bowlers who can consistently bowl at 140-plus with the height that he has," he said. "And the way he is batting right now, he keeps getting better. In the future, he can be a very good prospect for us."
With the World Cup still some distance away, Gill believes the defeat offers clarity rather than crisis.
"The way we want to play, we haven't been able to do it consistently in this series," he admitted. "But we have time. As long as all the players are aware of what we need to work on, hopefully in the next one or two series we can fix those areas and perform the way we want to."

Virat Kohli’s superb century could not prevent India’s first-ever home ODI series defeat to New Zealand, who sealed a historic 2-1 win with a 41-run victory in Indore.

Kohli hundred not enough as New Zealand clinch series with Indore win

Virat Kohli&rsquo;s superb century could not prevent India&rsquo;s first-ever home ODI series defeat to New Zealand, who sealed a historic 2-1 win with a 41-run victory in Indore.

Virat Kohli&rsquo;s magnificent, combative century, forged with trademark resolve under mounting pressure, proved heartbreakingly insufficient as India slumped to their first-ever bilateral ODI series defeat at home against New Zealand, losing the decider by 41 runs at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Sunday.
Kohli&rsquo;s 124 off 108 balls was a study in controlled aggression and steely temperament. The chase master shouldered the responsibility almost single-handedly, counter-punching a disciplined New Zealand attack with crisp drives, well-judged pulls and calculated risks over the ropes.
As wickets tumbled regularly at the other end, Kohli dug in, refusing to let the chase drift away, but once he fell late in the innings, India&rsquo;s resistance finally collapsed at 296 in 46 overs while chasing a stiff 338.
The defeat not only handed New Zealand a 2-1 series win but also marked a historic first -- India had never before lost a home ODI series to the Kiwis.
It was a sobering evening for the hosts, made more poignant by the fact that one of their finest modern-day batters had delivered a near-perfect response to adversity.
Earlier, Daryl Mitchell's second consecutive hundred and Glenn Phillips' blistering century powered New Zealand to a competitive 337 for eight despite early jolts from India&rsquo;s pace attack.
Mitchell (137) and Phillips (106) stitched together a 219-run partnership for the fourth wicket that turned the innings on its head.
Calm and authoritative, Mitchell anchored the stand while Phillips provided the momentum, allowing New Zealand to shift gears after a cautious start.
India were controlling the innings at one stage, having reduced the visitors to 58 for three but Mitchell and Phillips made it a contest.
Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, brought in for Prasidh Krishna, made an immediate impact by removing Henry Nicholls (0) with a beauty in the opening over.
Coming closer to the off-stump, Arshdeep (3/63) shaped the ball away to perfection as Nicholls, caught in two minds, withdrew his bat late and saw the delivery take the inside edge and crash into the leg-stump.
Arshdeep and fellow seamer Harshit Rana (3/84) hit the deck hard and extracted just enough movement to keep the New Zealand batters under check early on.
The visitors managed only 47 runs in the first 10 overs, losing both openers cheaply.
Harshit dismissed Devon Conway (5) for the third straight time, inducing an edge with a back-of-a-length delivery that was safely taken in the slips.
Will Young (30) attempted to break the shackles with a six over deep backward point off Harshit but the bowler had the last laugh.
Harshit broke the 53-run stand between Young and Mitchell when the former cut firmly to the right of Ravindra Jadeja at backward point, where the Indian all-rounder took a comfortable catch.
Mitchell once again set the tone for New Zealand&rsquo;s recovery by taking on Kuldeep Yadav early, launching the left-arm wrist-spinner for a towering six.
In reply, India&rsquo;s chase began shakily.
Rohit Sharma fell early for 11, caught by Kristian Clarke off Zak Foulkes, and Shubman Gill was dismissed for 23 by Kyle Jamieson, leaving India two down inside seven overs.
Kohli immediately set about rebuilding the innings with purpose.
Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul failed to provide support, departing cheaply as India slipped to 71 for four.
Kohli, however, remained unflustered, rotating strike efficiently and punishing loose deliveries.
His partnership with Nitish Kumar Reddy (53 off 57 balls) revived India&rsquo;s hopes, with the duo adding valuable runs through intelligent placement rather than reckless hitting.
Even as required rate climbed, Kohli continued to attack selectively, reaching his century that drew loud applause from the Indore crowd.
Harshit Rana&rsquo;s late cameo of 52 off 43 balls briefly reignited hopes, but the asking rate proved too steep.
Kohli&rsquo;s dismissal at 292 for nine -- caught by Daryl off Kristian Clarke -- sealed India&rsquo;s fate.
As New Zealand celebrated a landmark triumph on Indian soil, Kohli walked off to a standing ovation, his innings a lone beacon on a night of collective disappointment for the hosts.
For the visitors, it was a moment to savour -- a historic series win achieved through composure, power and belief.
For India, it's a reminder that even home dominance can crumble despite individual brilliance.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru has proposed installing AI-enabled cameras at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium at its own cost to improve crowd management and retain IPL matches in Bengaluru.

RCB proposes installation of AI-enabled cameras at Chinnaswamy for crowd management

Royal Challengers Bengaluru has proposed installing AI-enabled cameras at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium at its own cost to improve crowd management and retain IPL matches in Bengaluru.

Desperate to ensure that IPL matches are not taken away from the M Chinnaswamy Stadium here, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru franchise has proposed the installation of 300-350 AI-enabled cameras at the venue and offered to bear the estimated cost of Rs 4.50 crore for this crowd management initiative.
RCB has made the proposal in an official communication to the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA).
&ldquo;RCB has proposed the installation of 300 to 350 AI-enabled cameras at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. RCB has further committed to bearing the entire one-time cost of this initiative, estimated at approximately Rs 4.5 crore,&rdquo; the franchise said in a release.
&ldquo;The advanced surveillance technology will empower the KSCA and law enforcement agencies to efficiently manage crowd movement, ensure disciplined queueing, monitor unauthorised access through real-time tracking of entries and exits, and significantly enhance overall fan safety,&rdquo; the franchise added.
All cricket was halted at the Chinnaswamy after 11 fans were killed in a stampede outside the venue during RCB's IPL trophy celebrations last year.
A state government-constituted task force is scheduled to submit its report on Saturday after monitoring the safety enhancement work currently in progress at the stadium premises.
The investigation had blamed the lack of crowd management measures for the deadly stampede on June 4 when lakhs thronged the venue to take part in RCB's celebrations.
It had held RCB responsible for the chaos, saying the franchise encouraged fans to come out in numbers despite not having necessary clearances from civic and law enforcement agencies.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, RCB announced compensation for the families of the victims and set up a foundation to connect with the fans.
For its latest proposal, the franchise said it has partnered with Staqu, a company which it said has a proven track record in enhancing public safety through automation and data-driven intelligence.
Staqu has listed Bihar Police and the Election Commission of India as its clients on its official website.
The success stories that the company has posted include a past collaboration with Uttar Pradesh Prison and Administrative Reform Services to centralise the video feeds from over 3000 CCTV cameras in more than 60 jails at a command centre for review of security breaches, violence, overcrowding and unauthorised access.
&ldquo;Staqu's state-of-the-art facial recognition technology and intelligent monitoring of objects, crowd, perimeters and vehicles has assisted many State Police forces in their regular monitoring and investigations,&rdquo; said RCB.
&ldquo;The integration of this advanced technology will elevate crowd management standards and reinforce a safe, secure and seamless matchday experience for all fans,&rdquo; the team asserted.
The AI-driven real-time camera system relies on video, audio and text data, enabling match-day security forces to detect unauthorised access and intrusion to take preventive measures well in advance.
If the venue does not receive essential permission from government agencies to hold IPL 2026 matches, the RCB management is thinking of taking its home matches to Raipur and Pune.
A venue is required to be handed over to the authorities at least a month before the start of the IPL, and this edition of the league is tentatively scheduled to start March 26.
Before that, the country would be hosting the T20 World Cup from February 7 and the Chinnaswamy has not been able to bag a single game for that either after failing to obtain necessary NOCs.
The global event's final is scheduled for March 8.

Bangladesh’s aggrieved cricketers have called off their boycott after reaching a consensus with the BCB, paving the way for the resumption of BPL T20 matches.

Bangladesh cricketers call off boycott, BPL matches resume

Bangladesh&rsquo;s aggrieved cricketers have called off their boycott after reaching a consensus with the BCB, paving the way for the resumption of BPL T20 matches.

Bangladesh's aggrieved cricketers called off their boycott "in the greater interest of the game" after the country's Cricket Board (BCB) and the players' welfare association arrived at a consensus, leading to the resumption of the scheduled BPL T20 matches on Friday.
The BCB (Bangladesh Cricket Board) on Thursday stared at the prospect of its flagship T20 league coming to a halt after senior national players revolted against director Najmul Islam for his disparaging comments against them.
The BCB went on damage control mode and removed Najmul as head of its finance committee, a move that may have helped bring the situation under control for the time being.
Bangladesh's Cricketers' Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) president Mohammad Mithun said they had to "compromise on some things" for the sake of the players.
Mithun, who was flanked by BCB director Iftekhar Rahman at a press conference at the board premises late Thursday night, said, "Keeping the greater interest of cricket in mind, we will resume playing tomorrow (on Friday).
"They (the BCB) have assured us that they will reach out to him (BCB director M Nazmul Islam) and fulfil our demands as early as possible."
The two BPL matches which were abandoned on Thursday -- Chattogram Royals vs Noakhali Express and Rajshahi Warriors vs Sylhet Titans in Dhaka -- are now being played on Friday.
The match between Chattogram Royals and Noakhali Express is in progress.
Earlier on Thursday, despite the removal of Najmul from the key BCB post, two matches of the BPL scheduled on the day were postponed.
The furore started after Najmul, while reiterating Bangladesh's refusal to travel to India for next month's T20 World Cup on account of "security worries", rejected concerns surrounding players' remuneration should the country withdraw.
He stated that the players would not be compensated as they have not justified the support so far, having failed to win a single ICC event.
The comments caused an outrage with CWAB calling for his immediate ouster from BCB.
Bangladesh are refusing to tour India, citing security concerns after pacer Mustafizur Rahman was dropped from the IPL on BCCI's instructions for unspecified "developments all around".
The BCB is still in talks with the ICC to figure a way out after the world body showed reluctance to shift Bangladesh's four games in India to Sri Lanka.

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Hardik Pandya wins toss, opts to bowl first at Wankhede
Naman Dhir replaces Mohd Nabi for Mumbai Indians
Unchanged batting XI for the Knight Riders

Bangladesh have declined to tour India for the T20 World Cup after the ICC rejected their request for a venue change, raising the possibility of Scotland replacing them.

Bangladesh refuse to travel to India for T20 World Cup over security concerns

Bangladesh have declined to tour India for the T20 World Cup after the ICC rejected their request for a venue change, raising the possibility of Scotland replacing them.

A defiant Bangladesh on Thursday refused to send its national cricket team for next month's T20 World Cup in India after the ICC rejected its demand for a change of venue, effectively paving the way for Scotland to take the country's place.
Bangladesh had been served an ultimatum by the world body on Wednesday to either agree to travel to India or risk being replaced as there was no credible threat to the safety of their players, officials or fans there. The country was given time till Thursday to make its decision. Scotland is next in line based on team rankings for the tournament starting February 7.
However, taking a hard-line position Bangladesh's sports advisor Asif Nazrul, after a meeting with national team players, announced that the ICC's assessment was not acceptable to them.
"While our cricketers have worked hard to qualify for the World Cup, the security risk regarding playing in India remains unchanged. This concern is not based on abstract analysis...," Nazrul said in a press conference while declaring that the country won't play in India.
"...we are not convinced that they can ensure the safety of our entire team, journalists, and spectators. "We are not giving up hope yet; our team is ready. We expect the ICC to provide justice by considering our genuine security risks and allowing us to play in Sri Lanka," he added.
Bangladesh are due to play four games in India (three in Kolkata and one in Mumbai). The country raised security concerns after pacer Mustafizur Rahman was ousted from the IPL on BCCI's instructions for unspecified "developments all around."
"It is crucial to weigh the loss of not playing against the potential catastrophe of pushing players, fans, and journalists into a risky regional political situation. This is a government decision, as the state is responsible for determining whether its citizens face security risks abroad," Nazrul asserted.
The ICC on Wednesday refused to accept its security concerns, saying that the Bangladesh Cricket Board was repeatedly linking its participation in the tournament to a "single, isolated and unrelated development concerning one of its player's involvement in a domestic league."
"In the absence of any independent security findings that materially compromise the safety of the Bangladesh team, the ICC is unable to relocate fixtures," the ICC had stated.
"Doing so would carry significant logistical and scheduling consequences for other teams and fans worldwide, and would also create far-reaching precedent-related challenges that risk undermining the neutrality, fairness, and integrity of ICC governance," it added.

The ICC has denied the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s request to move its T20 World Cup fixtures from India to Sri Lanka, citing no credible security threat and warning against setting an undesirable precedent.

ICC Board votes against BCB request, Bangladesh matches to be played in India as scheduled

The ICC has denied the Bangladesh Cricket Board&rsquo;s request to move its T20 World Cup fixtures from India to Sri Lanka, citing no credible security threat and warning against setting an undesirable precedent.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday rejected the request from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to shift its team's T20 World Cup fixtures to Sri Lanka, saying the matches will proceed as scheduled since there was no credible threat to the safety of Bangladesh players, officials or fans at any of the tournament venues in India.
The decision was taken at an ICC Board meeting held via video conference, which was convened to discuss the situation after the BCB raised concerns and sought a change in venues.
"The ICC Board noted that relocating matches under the present circumstances could jeopardise the sanctity of ICC events and undermine the organisation's neutrality as a global governing body," the ICC said in a statement.
According to the ICC, the Board reviewed multiple security assessments, including independent evaluations, all of which concluded that there was no credible threat to Bangladesh players.
ICC sources told PTI that out of 16 members, 14 voted against BCB's relocation request. The ICC has given BCB one more day to reflect and take a final position.
"Of all the members, only BCB and Pakistan voted in favour of the relocation request while all other voted against it. Bangladesh was given time till January 21 to confirm its participation but they have been given one more day by the ICC Board to state their position," said the ICC source.
The ICC also said that making changes to the schedule at such a late stage was not feasible and that altering fixtures in the absence of a verified security risk could set an "undesirable precedent" for future global events.
The world governing body said its management had held a series of meetings and correspondences with the BCB in recent weeks, sharing detailed information on the tournament's security arrangements. These included venue-specific plans and assurances of layered protection involving federal and state law enforcement agencies.
BCB president Aminul Islam said he is hoping for a miracle from the ICC.
"I am hoping for a miracle from the ICC. Who doesn't want to play in the World Cup? The Bangladesh players want to play the World Cup. The Bangladesh government wants Bangladesh to play the World Cup," he was quoted as saying in a ESPNCricinfo report.
"But we don't think India is safe for our players. A government doesn't only consider the players, but they consider all, when it takes a decision."
He said he would speak to the Bangladesh government one more time on the matter.
"I asked the ICC board for time to talk to my government for one last time," Aminul said in the report.
"They said it's a valid point, and gave me 24 or 48 hours to get back to them. I don't want to put pressure on the government. We know that India is not secure for us. We remain in the stance that we want to play in Sri Lanka. I know the ICC denied us but we will talk to the government one more time. I will inform the ICC about the government's feedback."
An ICC spokesperson said the organisation had engaged in &ldquo;sustained and constructive dialogue&rdquo; with the BCB with the objective of ensuring Bangladesh&rsquo;s participation in the tournament.
"Independent security assessments, comprehensive venue-level security plans and formal assurances from host authorities consistently concluded that there is no credible or verifiable threat to the safety or security of the Bangladesh team in India," the spokesperson said.
The ICC, however, expressed concern that the BCB continued to link its participation to what it described as a "single, isolated and unrelated development&rdquo; involving one of its players' participation in a domestic league, a matter the ICC said had no bearing on the tournament&rsquo;s security framework.
The Board reiterated that venue and scheduling decisions are guided by objective threat assessments, host guarantees and agreed participation terms, which apply uniformly to all 20 teams in the competition.
"In the absence of any independent security findings that materially compromise safety, the ICC is unable to relocate fixtures. Doing so would carry significant logistical and scheduling consequences for other teams and fans worldwide, and would also create far-reaching precedent-related challenges that risk undermining the neutrality, fairness, and integrity of ICC governance," the spokesperson said.
Bangladesh government's sports advisor Asif Nazrul on Tuesday had reiterated that under no condition would the national team travel to India.
It is highly likely that if Bangladesh decide to pull out of the tournament, Scotland may replace Bangladesh as per current rankings.
The crisis was triggered by the removal of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from Kolkata Knight Riders' roster for this year's Indian Premier League on BCCI's instructions for unspecified "developments all around".
Citing security concerns and national pride, the BCB responded by announcing its national team won't travel to India for its T20 World Cup group stage games in Kolkata and Mumbai.
BCB wants to play each of the four group stage matches in Sri Lanka, where the marquee India-Pakistan clash will also be held as per the mutually agreed arrangement for ICC events until 2027.
In their last meeting with ICC officials in Dhaka, the BCB had proposed swapping positions with Ireland in Group B, which features tournament co-hosts Sri Lanka, Australia, Oman and Zimbabwe.
Such a move would allow Bangladesh to remain in Sri Lanka for their group engagements.
The bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh have deteriorated in recent months, exacerbated by the killings of Hindus in Bangladesh.

Abhishek Sharma smashed a 35-ball 84 as India out-batted New Zealand by 48 runs in the opening T20I in Nagpur, setting up a commanding victory with a total of 238.

Abhishek Sharma's blitz powers India to big T20I win over New Zealand

Abhishek Sharma smashed a 35-ball 84 as India out-batted New Zealand by 48 runs in the opening T20I in Nagpur, setting up a commanding victory with a total of 238.

Abhishek Sharma's pyrotechnics followed a now familiar script with India out-batting New Zealand by 48 runs in the opening T20 International in Nagpur on Wednesday.&nbsp;
Abhishek, who has made it a habit of lighting up the evenings in stadiums across the cricketing globe with his array of monstrous hits, smashed 84 off just 35 balls and was complemented well by Rinku Singh (44 not out off 20 balls) who applied the finishing touches in India's commanding score of 238 for 7 on a Jamtha shirt-front.
In reply, Glenn Phillips (78 off 40 balls) did indulge in some scary hitting in company of Mark Chapman (39 off 24 balls) as they added 79 off just seven overs but scoreboard pressure was such that they were eventually buried under a deluge of runs.&nbsp;
New Zealand's final reply was 190 for 7 with Varun Chakravarthy (2/37) again picking up crucial wickets while Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya provided initial breakthroughs.
In the past 12 months, one format where Indian team has looked unbeatable is the shortest one and the primary reason being the 25-year-old Abhishek, whose Key Responsibility Area (KRA) in the T20 national team is to leave the opposition bowlers scared as well as scarred.&nbsp;
On the day, the world's top ranked T20I batter showed no mercy while making the Black Cap fielders look like mere bystanders with eight towering sixes and five fours.
Abhishek's carefree hitting also helped his skipper Suryakumar Yadav (32 off 22 balls) get some runs although he was far from his best. But the young opener's attack at all costs gave his skipper a chance to play himself in during a 99-run stand off 47 balls for the third wicket.
Towards the end, Rinku Singh (44 not out off 20 balls) got to play an innings of substance after a long time with India ending their 20 overs in fantastic fashion. For someone who nowadays can hardly put a foot wrong, it took Abhishek exactly five deliveries to set his eye in against Jacob Duffy (2/27 in 4 overs) before the first of his eight maximums came out of the closet. It was a lofted six into the sight screen.
In between, Sanju Samson (10) and Ishan Kishan (8) wasted opportunities and when Abhishek got his chance next time, there was no looking back. Abhishek's USP is his tremendous bat-speed that he generates and New Zealand's attack didn't have any bowler of express pace to challenge the Punjab southpaw.
The bat comes straight and gives him ample chance to create more scoring zones in-front of the square. The deliveries from Kristian Clarke and Kyle Jamieson came at an ideal speed of early 130 clicks on a featherbed and balls sailed over the ropes.
Such was his six-hitting prowess that his first three boundaries came off spinner Glenn Phillips' bowling after he had smashed four maximums. At the other end, Suryakumar looked scratchy but two shots -- a back-foot punch through covers off Duffy and a whiplashed six off Clarke behind square -- did provide glimpses of a vintage Indian skipper. But in general, he is still far from his best.
A normally consistent Black Caps skipper Mitchell Santner (1/37 in 3 overs) did try to slow things and got some partial success when Suryakumar was holed out at long-on, failing to get required the elevation.
Undeterred, Abhishek carried on with his mayhem although he was out in the very next over when leg-spinner Ish Sodhi just shortened the length of his leg-break a tad bit and Jamieson gobbled it with his giant palms.
Towards the end, Rinku got to face enough deliveries to make an impact as he clobbered Daryl Mitchell's first and innings' last over for 21 runs to take the team to an improbable total.

New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell tops the ICC ODI rankings after a stellar series in India, surpassing Virat Kohli, with Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran rising to third.

Daryl Mitchell overtakes Virat Kohli to reclaim No. 1 spot in ICC ODI rankings

New Zealand&rsquo;s Daryl Mitchell tops the ICC ODI rankings after a stellar series in India, surpassing Virat Kohli, with Afghanistan&rsquo;s Ibrahim Zadran rising to third.

Indian superstar Virat Kohli was on Wednesday displaced from the top spot by New Zealand swashbuckler Daryl Mitchell in the latest ICC ODI rankings for batters following the latter's stupendous run of form in the just-concluded series.
New Zealand won the series 1-2, their first on Indian soil in the ODI format, to end a 37-year wait.
Mitchell scored two hundreds during the rubber and the 34-year-old also became the fourth-fastest male to nine one-day international hundreds, in just his 54th innings, sitting behind only Imam-ul-Haq (48), Hashim Amla (52) and Quinton de Kock (53).
The Hamilton product is in the form of his life, scoring 352 runs across the three-game series.
His series total was the most ever by a New Zealander in a three-match ODI series and the third-most of all time, behind only Pakistan's Babar Azam (360 against the West Indies in 2016) and India's Shubman Gill (360 against New Zealand in 2023).
"With 845 ranking points, he aptly replaces Kohli (795 points) who drops to No.2 on the list in the latest rankings release. The pair sit well clear of a chasing pack that includes Ibrahim Zadran, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Babar Azam," the ICC said in a statement.
It is the second time Mitchell has held the No.1 ranking in ODI cricket, but his previous spell at the top only lasted three days last November before he was overtaken by Rohit.
Only South African AB de Villiers has more ODI centuries in India against India (five) than Mitchell now does (four).
In 54 innings, Mitchell is yet to record an ODI duck, which is the second-longest all-time streak, behind only Kepler Wessels, who was astonishingly never removed for naught across his 105 ODI innings between 1983 and 1994.
The son of notable rugby coach John, who is currently in charge of England's World Cup-winning women's side, Mitchell toiled for much of his 20s, accumulating over 200 games worth of domestic experience in his homeland.
 Other notable movement
Behind Mitchell and Kohli, Afghanistan's Zadran (third, 764 ranking points) swaps spots with India's Rohit (fourth, 757).
Glenn Phillips and Mitchell combined for a 219-run stand in their series-sealing win in Indore, the second-highest partnership in New Zealand's ODI history.
Phillips blasted 106 runs off 88 balls, seeing him climb 16 places up to 20th.
Phillips also rises 14 spots to equal-31st on the list for ODI all-rounders, which Afghanistan's Azmatullah Omarzai remains at the top of.
New Zealand's Michael Bracewell was the big mover in the ODI bowling rankings, jumping six spots to 33rd after his returns in the first two games of the India series.
The top of the bowling ranks remain unchanged, with Afghanistan star Rashid Khan (710 points) remaining the clear frontrunner ahead of England speedster Jofra Archer (670 points).
Rashid also moved up two spots to second on the latest rankings for T20I bowlers, following his two-wicket haul for Afghanistan in the opening match of their series against the West Indies in Dubai.

Pakistan Cricket Board supports Bangladesh's stance of not playing its T20 World Cup matches in India due to security concerns and offers to host the games, ahead of ICC’s final decision.

PCB backs Bangladesh's refusal to play T20WC in India, offers to host its games

Pakistan Cricket Board supports Bangladesh's stance of not playing its T20 World Cup matches in India due to security concerns and offers to host the games, ahead of ICC&rsquo;s final decision.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has backed Bangladesh's stance of refusing to play its T20 World Cup matches in India due to "security concerns" and offered to host the country's matches in a communication to the ICC.&nbsp;
The ICC Board is scheduled to meet on Wednesday to take a final call on Bangladesh's participation, including whether the team will travel to India for the tournament starting February 7.&nbsp;
Bangladesh are slated to play all four of their group-stage matches in India, with the first three scheduled in Kolkata and the remaining one in Mumbai. However, the Bangladesh Cricket Board, supported by its government, has remained adamant and sought a shift of its matches to co-hosts Sri Lanka.&nbsp;
"The PCB has said in the e-mail that the demand by the Bangladesh board is justified and must be accepted and that if there are any issues moving Bangladesh matches to Sri Lanka, Pakistan is ready to host all their games," a PCB source said.&nbsp;
The ICC and the BCB have held multiple discussions on the issue, including a meeting in Dhaka last weekend, but neither side has changed its position. While the ICC has insisted that the tournament be held as per schedule, the BCB has maintained that it cannot send their team to India.&nbsp;
The PCB has not made any public comment on the matter although Board sources have said that the Bangladesh government had contacted Pakistan for support in the ICC.&nbsp;
Pakistan will be playing all their matches in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model agreement with the BCCI and ICC till 2027.&nbsp;
The crisis related to Bangladesh began after Kolkata Knight Riders released pacer Mustafizur Rahman following a directive from the BCCI, which referred to "recent developments all around".&nbsp;
Subsequently, the Bangladesh government banned the broadcast of the IPL, and the BCB formally informed the ICC of its decision of not playing World Cup matches in India.&nbsp;

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