The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is scheduled to start on February 7 in Sri Lanka and India.
Recently, there have been reports suggesting that some matches in India could be rescheduled due to a Nipah virus outbreak in West Bengal.
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Last week, Indian media reported the outbreak, which led authorities to quarantine about 100 people as part of emergency health measures.
The Nipah virus is transmitted from animals to humans, particularly bats, and is considered highly dangerous with a high fatality rate in severe cases.
Concerns grew after reports suggested that England and Australia had advised their players against traveling to India.
However, according to A Sports, the Indian Ministry of Health reassured the public, stating, “Enhanced surveillance, laboratory testing, and field investigations were undertaken through coordinated efforts of Central and State health agencies, which ensured timely containment of the cases. No additional Nipah Virus Disease cases have been detected so far. The situation is under constant monitoring, and all necessary public health measures are in place.”
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Officials from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) also rejected any idea of moving the T20 World Cup matches.
“We take any potential health risk seriously, especially ahead of major tournaments. At this stage, we have not identified any credible threat. If the situation changes, decisions will be taken in consultation with local authorities and the government,” a BCCI official told an Indian sports outlet.
“There is absolutely no question of moving matches away from Kolkata,” he added.
The official further clarified that no discussions had been held about changing the tournament schedule.
“Everything is safe at the moment. If the government or local administration advises otherwise, we will respond accordingly. For now, there is no discussion about changing World Cup plans due to Nipah virus concerns,” he concluded.
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The T20 World Cup is expected to proceed as planned, with all necessary precautions in place to ensure the safety of players and fans.
