Bangladesh has said it will not travel to India to take part in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after the International Cricket Council rejected its request to shift group matches to Sri Lanka. The decision was taken following a meeting between Bangladesh national team players and Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul, officials said on Thursday.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board had asked the ICC to move its matches out of India, citing security concerns amid rising political tensions. However, the ICC refused the request, stating that independent security assessments did not find any credible threat to Bangladeshi players, officials or fans at the Indian venues. The global body also warned that changing venues at the last moment would disrupt tournament planning.
Following the rejection, the ICC reportedly gave Bangladesh a 24-hour ultimatum to confirm participation under the existing schedule or risk being replaced in the tournament. Scotland is widely seen as the next team in line if Bangladesh pulls out.
Speaking at a press conference, Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul said the ICC’s position was unacceptable to Bangladesh. “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,” he said.
Nazrul added that Bangladesh was still hopeful of a solution. “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 said.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board said it wants to play the World Cup but not in India. BCB President Aminul Islam Bulbul said the board would continue talks with the ICC. “We want to play the World Cup, but we will not play in India. We will keep fighting,” he said.
Bulbul also criticised the ICC decision-making process, referring to the recent removal of pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League following instructions from the BCCI. “The Mustafizur issue is not a single incident. There were some shocking calls in the ICC board meeting,” he said.
Bangladesh is scheduled to play four matches in India, including three in Kolkata and one in Mumbai. Officials said security concerns intensified after Mustafizur Rahman was dropped from the IPL due to unspecified developments.
As the standoff continues, uncertainty hangs over Bangladesh’s participation in the T20 World Cup, with the possibility of Scotland replacing them if the impasse is not resolved in time.
