New Delhi: Bangladesh has been given just one day to confirm whether its men’s cricket team will travel to India for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 or risk being removed from the tournament, following a high-level meeting of the International Cricket Council.
The ICC board met via video conference to address Bangladesh’s refusal to play its group-stage matches in India. After deliberations, the global governing body decided to proceed with the tournament strictly according to its published schedule and rejected Bangladesh’s request to move its fixtures to co-host Sri Lanka.
Bangladesh has cited safety and security concerns for its players as the reason for not traveling to India. However, the ICC said multiple security assessments, including independent reviews, found no credible threat to Bangladeshi players, officials, media personnel, or fans at any of the designated venues.
The ICC also said it was not feasible to alter the schedule so close to the start of the tournament. Officials warned that changing venues without a verified security risk could set a damaging precedent and undermine the neutrality of future ICC events.
In the days leading up to the decision, ICC management held several meetings and exchanged correspondence with the Bangladesh Cricket Board, sharing detailed security plans and assurances from Indian federal and state authorities. Despite this, the BCB maintained its stance.
The ICC has confirmed that the Men’s #T20WorldCup fixtures will proceed as scheduled.
Details 👇https://t.co/PvpW5NJ1eI
— ICC (@ICC) January 21, 2026
According to reports, the ICC has now issued a one-day deadline for Bangladesh to confirm participation. If the team refuses to play in India, it will be replaced by Scotland based on team rankings.
The dispute escalated earlier this month following the sudden removal of Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League, reportedly due to instructions from the Indian cricket board amid rising political tensions between the two countries. The ICC has said this issue is unrelated to World Cup security arrangements.
Bangladesh’s interim government has backed the board’s position, rejecting what it described as unreasonable pressure. Officials have insisted their request for a venue change is justified and that they will not be forced into compliance.
Uncertainty has also spread within the team. Captain Litton Das admitted that players remain unsure whether Bangladesh will participate, saying the entire country is in a state of confusion over the decision. The T20 World Cup is set to begin on February 7, with Bangladesh scheduled to play four group matches in Kolkata and Mumbai.
