A FINAL DECISION on Bangladesh’s participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and specifically whether the team will travel to India for the tournament is expected by 21 January, according to ESPNcricinfo. The International Cricket Council (ICC) conveyed the deadline to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) during discussions held in Dhaka on Saturday.
The meeting marked the second round of talks between the ICC and the BCB within a week. During the discussions, the BCB reiterated its willingness to take part in the tournament, but maintained that it prefers to play its matches outside India. As Sri Lanka is a co-host, it has been presented by the BCB as the most viable alternative venue. The board has cited security concerns surrounding travel and matches in India, a position the ICC has not accepted, remaining firm on adhering to the original schedule.
The stalemate has now stretched close to three weeks, after the BCB first raised its concerns on 4 January. The T20 World Cup is scheduled to begin on 7 February, with Bangladesh set to face West Indies in the opening match in Kolkata. Their next two group fixtures are also scheduled for Kolkata, followed by their final group game in Mumbai.
During Saturday’s talks, the ICC is understood to have rejected the BCB’s proposal to shift Bangladesh to Group B by swapping places with Ireland, whose group matches are scheduled in Sri Lanka. The ICC reportedly reiterated that it sees no specific security threat to the Bangladesh team in India.
An advisory circulated by the ICC to the 20 participating teams, prepared by an independent security agency, categorised the overall threat level in India as medium to high. However, the assessment did not identify any direct or specific threat to any visiting team.
Sources familiar with the discussions indicated that the ICC will now await the BCB’s final position. Should the BCB decide against travelling to India, the ICC is expected to name a replacement team, with Scotland currently next in line based on rankings.
The dispute traces its origins to a separate development earlier this year, when Kolkata Knight Riders removed Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad on the BCCI’s instruction, without an official reason being cited. This was followed by the Bangladesh government banning the broadcast of the IPL in the country, after which the BCB formally informed the ICC of its refusal to play T20 World Cup matches in India, a stance it has maintained since.
