New Delhi: The International Cricket Council has issued a firm ultimatum to the Bangladesh Cricket Board over its continued reluctance to travel to India for the 2026 men’s T20 World Cup, raising the possibility of Bangladesh losing its place in the tournament.
The ICC has reportedly set January 21 as the final deadline for Bangladesh to confirm participation in India. Failure to comply could see Scotland drafted into the competition as a replacement, based on current men’s T20 international rankings. The warning was conveyed during a high level meeting held in Dhaka, marking a decisive escalation in the standoff between the global body and the Bangladesh board.
Bangladesh has maintained its position that its matches should be shifted out of India, preferably to co host Sri Lanka, citing security concerns. The board has referred to a security advisory circulated among the 20 participating teams that classified the overall threat level in India as medium to high. However, the ICC has countered this claim, stating there is no specific or targeted threat against the Bangladesh team or any other participating side scheduled to play in India.
The governing body has also rejected alternative proposals from Bangladesh, including a suggested group swap with Ireland, whose group stage fixtures are entirely in Sri Lanka. With these options ruled out, the deadlock has now stretched into its third week.
Under the current schedule, Bangladesh are due to play three group matches in Kolkata and one in Mumbai, beginning on the opening day of the tournament on February 7. Concerns within the Bangladesh board intensified following a directive that led to pacer Mustafizur Rahman being released from an Indian Premier League franchise despite a high value contract. While no official reason was cited, the move was seen as linked to rising political and public tensions.
The situation has also exposed divisions within Bangladesh cricket. Former players have urged a more diplomatic approach, warning against isolation. Matters worsened after a senior board official made remarks suggesting the board would not suffer financially by skipping the tournament and would not compensate players, triggering a brief player protest before the issue was defused.
With time running out, Bangladesh now faces a stark choice that could redefine its presence on the global cricket stage.
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