Bangladesh all but out of T20 World Cup 2026; Government advises team to boycott ICC event in India - Reports

Bangladesh Cricket Board does not want to send their players to India due to safety reasons.

Since the last few weeks, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has been urging the International Cricket Council (ICC) to relocate their matches of T20 World Cup 2026 out of India due to security reasons. They have cited safety issues for their players in India and requested to shift Bangladesh’s matches to Sri Lanka.

India and Sri Lanka are the co-hosts of ICC T20 World Cup 2026, which will start on February 7. Bangladesh are placed in Group C in T20 World Cup 2026 with West Indies, England, Nepal and Italy in their pool.

Their first three matches of the group stage are scheduled to take place at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, followed by the final game at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

However, after Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman was released from Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad on Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) instructions amid the political tensions between two nations, the BCB were not satisfied with the move. As a result, they decided not to send their players to India for T20 World Cup due to safety issues.

On Wednesday, ICC conducted a final meeting on the matter and refused to reschedule Bangladesh’s matches. Moreover, 15 of the 16 ICC members part of the T20 World Cup voted against Bangladesh’s request in the video meeting.

As a result, ICC gave a 24-hour deadline to BCB to make a final decision whether they will travel to India or not. Notably, if Bangladesh refuses to travel to India for the tournament, they will be replaced by Scotland.

Bangladesh Govt has announced their team is boycotting the World Cup- Reports

According to a report by Sports Tak, the Bangladesh Government has decided to boycott the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. Bangladesh government’s sports advisor Asif Nazrul maintained his stance, saying that they want their players to play in the ICC tournament but only in Sri Lanka. They are also hopeful that ICC will change their heart.

“I think we did not get justice from ICC. Whether we play in the World Cup or not is entirely a government decision.” said Bangladesh government’s sports advisor Asif Nazrul

Meanwhile, a total of 20 teams will lock horns in the ICC tournament. Pakistan are scheduled to play all of their games in Sri Lanka. Moreover, if they reach the semi-finals or finals, then those games will also take place outside India.

Bangladesh announced their squad earlier this month. Litton Das is going to captain the side, who aim for their first-ever title in the tournament’s history.

Bangladesh squad for T20 World Cup

Litton Das (C), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Saif Hassan, Tawhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Quazi Nurul Hasan Sohan, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Taskin Ahmed, Shaif Uddin, Shoriful Islam

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