The International Cricket Council (ICC) has given Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) a strict ultimatum to decide participation in the T20 World Cup 2026 by January 21. BCB cited security concerns in India and requested alternate venues, including Sri Lanka, which ICC rejected.
Bangladesh Must Decide by Jan 21 or Face World Cup Exit: ICC
New Delhi: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has issued a stern warning to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) regarding the T20 World Cup 2026. The ICC has told the BCB that they must make a final decision by January 21st. If Bangladesh does not clarify its position on playing in India by the stipulated time, the ICC could exclude them from the tournament.
At a meeting in Dhaka, the BCB stated that the team wants to play in the World Cup, but cannot play matches in India due to security concerns. Bangladesh suggested Sri Lanka as a possible alternative, as it is a co-host of the tournament. The ICC rejected this request, and as per the current schedule, all of Bangladesh's matches will be held in Mumbai and Kolkata.
T20 World Cup 2026: Bangladesh matches likely to shift venues; Here’s where they could be played
The BCB also requested that their Group C be changed to Ireland, as all of Ireland's matches will be held in Sri Lanka. The ICC rejected this request as well. The ICC states that there is no security threat to the Bangladesh team in India and that a change in the schedule is not possible.
The ICC has given the BCB until January 21st. If Bangladesh decides not to participate by this date, the ICC may give another team a chance based on their current rankings. Scotland could be the team to participate in the tournament in this situation.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has also responded to the matter. According to sources, if the Bangladesh issue is not resolved, Pakistan may reconsider its stance. The Bangladesh government has contacted Pakistan, and Pakistan has assured full security cooperation.
ICC rejects venue change request; Bangladesh to play T20 World Cup matches in India
The controversy began when the BCCI ordered the Kolkata Knight Riders to remove Bangladeshi player Mustafizur Rahman from the team. Following this, the BCB wrote to the ICC, refusing to play in India. The dispute has been going on for almost three weeks and now the ICC has taken a tough stand and set a deadline of January 21 to take a final decision.
