The International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) remain firm in their respective stances, with the latter maintaining its decision not to travel to India to play their matches in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. ICC officials held a video conference with the BCB hierarchy on Tuesday and urged the Bangladesh board to revisit its position regarding participation in the tournament. Sources close to the Bangladesh Cricket Board say the ICC may communicate its final decision on the matter by Thursday, or at the latest by Monday next week.
The video conference on Tuesday was attended by BCB President Aminul Islam, Vice Presidents Shakawath Hossain and Faruque Ahmed, Director and Chairman of the Cricket Operations Committee Nazmul Abedin, and Chief Executive Officer Nizam Uddin Chowdhury. Discussions focused on resolving the impasse ahead of the global tournament.
A media release from the BCB stated, “During the discussions, the BCB reaffirmed its position regarding the decision not to travel to India, citing security concerns. The Board also reiterated its request for the ICC to consider relocating Bangladesh’s matches outside India.”
The media statement further added, “While the ICC highlighted that the tournament itinerary has already been announced and requested the BCB to reconsider its stance, the Board’s position remains unchanged. Both parties agreed that discussions will continue to explore possible solutions. The BCB remains committed to safeguarding the well-being of its players, officials, and staff while engaging constructively with the ICC to address the matter.”
Asif Nazrul, Adviser to the Ministry of Youth & Sports, said during a media interaction on Tuesday that the cricket board had received a letter from the ICC’s security team warning of potential security concerns for the Bangladesh team due to the inclusion of Mustafizur Rahman in the T20 World Cup squad. He further claimed that the ICC security team also advised that Bangladeshi supporters wearing team jerseys while moving around in India could face safety risks.
The ICC has made it clear that the security plan for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 remains under continuous review. Participating members, including the BCB, are being consulted as part of this process, and the ICC remains open to constructive dialogue and feedback to further strengthen arrangements where appropriate.
The ICC’s position remains unchanged. The match schedule has been finalised and published, and the ICC expects all participating teams to meet their obligations under the Terms of Participation, the source added. As things stand, the ICC has no plans to change the schedule for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 despite multiple requests from the BCB.
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