Bangladesh's participation in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 remains uncertain after the International Cricket Council (ICC) turned down the Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) request to relocate its Group C matches away from India.
The tournament is scheduled to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, with Bangladesh currently drawn to play their group fixtures in Indian cities.
Reacting to the decision, BCB president Aminul Islam made it clear that Bangladesh is willing to play in the global event only if the ICC revisits its stance on venues. "I am hoping for a miracle from the ICC. Who doesn't want to play in the World Cup?" Aminul was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.
Following the ICC's refusal, the governing body has reportedly given Bangladesh
a strict deadline to confirm participation, warning that failure to do so within 24 hours could lead to their spot being handed to another nation. Aminul explained that the BCB had already placed its concerns before the ICC during a detailed discussion. "We can't really comment after the ICC's press release. The meeting went on for an hour and a half. We explained to the ICC board the reasons for our decision before the voting began. We didn't want to go into voting. We stepped back," he said.
Despite the standoff, Aminul underlined that there is strong internal support for playing the tournament. "The Bangladesh players want to play the World Cup. The Bangladesh government wants Bangladesh to play in the World Cup. But we don't think India is safe for our players," he stated, highlighting security as the core issue behind the board's position.
The BCB had proposed alternative solutions, including shifting matches to Sri Lanka or swapping groups with other teams. "We asked them (ICC) to shift the matches to Sri Lanka. We said that we can switch with Ireland or Zimbabwe. It would have been the easiest way. But Sri Lanka said that we don't want a new team in our group," Aminul revealed.
He added that the ICC has given him a brief window to consult the government before a final call is made. "I don't want to put pressure on the government. We know that India is not secure for us. We remain in the stance that we want to play in Sri Lanka. I know the ICC denied us, but we will talk to the government one more time. I will inform the government's feedback to the ICC," he said.
"A government doesn't only consider the players, but they consider all, when it takes a decision," Aminul concluded, as Bangladesh await a decisive moment in their World Cup journey.
