The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is set to make a final decision on whether their team will participate in the T20 World Cup 2026, with the key deadline set for January 21.
The main question remains whether Bangladesh will travel to India for the tournament.
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In discussions held in Dhaka on Saturday, the second meeting between the BCB and the ICC within a week, the board reiterated its desire to play in the T20 World Cup but expressed that it would prefer to compete outside India.
Sri Lanka, a co-host of the tournament, is being considered as an alternative venue.
The BCB has cited security concerns about traveling and playing in India, though the ICC has maintained that the original schedule will remain unchanged.
According to the current plan, Bangladesh is placed in Group C and is set to play its opening match against the West Indies in Kolkata on February 7.
Their next two group games are also scheduled in Kolkata, with the final group match taking place in Mumbai.
The impasse began nearly three weeks ago when the BCB first raised its concerns on January 4.
READ: ICC sets unusual condition on Bangladesh over Mustafizur Rahman for T20 World Cup
During the recent talks, the ICC reportedly rejected Bangladesh’s request to move to Group B, which would have swapped their fixtures with Ireland’s matches in Sri Lanka.
The ICC, however, assured the BCB that there is no direct security threat to the Bangladesh team.
An independent security advisory sent to all 20 participating teams identified the threat level in India as medium to high overall, but no team faces a specific targeted threat.
According to ESPNcricinfo, the discussions have indicated that the ICC will wait for the BCB’s final decision.
If Bangladesh ultimately refuses to travel to India, the ICC may name a replacement team, with Scotland currently being the likely candidate based on rankings.
The dispute traces back to the IPL 2026 squad, when Kolkata Knight Riders, following instructions from the BCCI, removed Mustafizur Rahman from their squad without providing a reason.
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In response, the Bangladesh government banned the IPL broadcast in the country, and the BCB informed the ICC that it would not play its World Cup matches in India, a stance it has maintained since.
This situation continues to create uncertainty around Bangladesh’s participation in the 2026 T20 World Cup, with fans and cricket authorities awaiting the board’s final decision.
