Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup 2026 Participation to Be Decided by January 21
Bangladesh must decide by Jan 21 on playing T20 World Cup matches in India, with ICC firm on schedule and replacement possible.
Bangladesh must take a final call on their participation in the 2026 T20 World Cup by January 21, with the International Cricket Council setting a firm deadline ahead of the tournament start.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board has told the ICC it wants to play the World Cup but is uneasy about sending the team to India, citing security concerns. The board has suggested playing its matches in Sri Lanka instead.
The ICC, however, has made it clear that the original schedule will not change. Bangladesh remain placed in Group C, with all their group matches set in India as planned.
As per the current fixture list, Bangladesh are scheduled to open their campaign against West Indies in Kolkata on February 7. They will play two more group games in Kolkata before heading to Mumbai for their final league match.
The BCB had also proposed swapping groups with Ireland, whose matches are scheduled in Sri Lanka. That request was rejected by the ICC, which said altering groups would affect tournament balance and logistics.
An independent security advisory, reviewed by the ICC, has rated the overall threat level in India as medium to high. However, it added that there is no specific threat to visiting teams, including Bangladesh, during the tournament window.
If Bangladesh decide not to travel to India, the ICC is expected to replace them. Scotland, next in line on the rankings, would likely take their place in the tournament.
The standoff traces back to a wider political and cricketing fallout. It began after Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman was removed from Kolkata Knight Riders’ IPL 2026 squad on the instruction of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
Soon after, the Bangladesh government imposed a ban on IPL broadcasts in the country. In response, the BCB informed the ICC that it would not play T20 World Cup matches in India.
With the World Cup set to begin on February 7 across India and Sri Lanka, the ICC is keen to resolve the issue quickly. For Bangladesh, the next few days will decide whether they feature in the global event or miss out entirely.
