The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reportedly taken a firm stand against the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) amid growing uncertainty over Bangladesh’s participation in the 2026 men’s T20 World Cup in India. According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, the ICC has issued an ultimatum to the BCB, asking it to confirm its willingness to travel to India by January 21 or risk being replaced by Scotland, who would qualify based on the current ICC men’s T20I rankings.
The warning was reportedly conveyed during a meeting between ICC and BCB officials in Dhaka on Saturday, as the standoff between the two bodies entered its third week. Bangladesh have raised repeated concerns about player safety, requesting that their matches be shifted out of India—preferably to co-host Sri Lanka.
The BCB cited an advisory from an independent security agency, circulated among all 20 participating nations, which placed India’s threat level in the “medium to high” category. However, the ICC has maintained that there is no specific or targeted security threat against the Bangladesh team or any other side scheduled to play in India.
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As a result, the global body rejected the BCB’s proposal to swap group-stage fixtures with Ireland, whose matches are set to be played entirely in Sri Lanka. As per the existing schedule, Bangladesh are slated to play three group-stage matches in Kolkata and one in Mumbai, beginning on the tournament’s opening day on February 7.
ICC sets January 21 deadline on Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup participation
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The ICC has made it clear that logistical changes at this stage would be difficult, especially without concrete evidence of heightened risk. Interestingly, the BCB’s concerns intensified following a controversial directive from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which instructed IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad despite acquiring him for ₹9.2 crore at the auction. While neither the BCCI nor KKR provided explicit reasons, the Indian board reportedly hinted at rising anti-Bangladesh sentiment as a factor.
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The issue has also sparked debate within Bangladesh cricket circles. Several former players have urged the BCB to pursue a diplomatic resolution rather than an outright refusal. Matters worsened after a senior BCB official made a dismissive remark suggesting the board would not suffer financially if Bangladesh skipped the World Cup, triggering player unrest and a brief strike before tensions were eventually eased.
With the ICC’s deadline looming, Bangladesh cricket now stands at a crossroads, facing the possibility of missing out on one of the sport’s biggest global events.
