The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has once again firmly reiterated its decision to not travel to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026, maintaining a steadfast position amid ongoing security concerns. BCB president Aminul Islam Bulbul officially confirmed this development to media representatives during a press conference held on Thursday in Dhaka.
Security Concerns Remain Unchanged
The decision follows a crucial meeting between T20 World Cup-bound players and Bangladesh government's Sports Advisor Asif Nazrul at the Intercontinental Hotel in Dhaka. This gathering occurred after the International Cricket Council (ICC) formally rejected BCB's request for a venue change for the tournament, which is scheduled to commence next month.
Asif Nazrul emphasized that the security situation in India had not improved, stating: "There is no scope to change our decision. We believe we did not get justice from the ICC. We still hope that the ICC will do justice to us. The security situation in India remains unchanged. Our security concerns did not materialize out of thin air."
Historical Incident Cited
Nazrul elaborated on the origins of these security concerns, referencing a specific past incident: "It stemmed from a real incident. The country (India) could not provide security for one of our cricketers. In that country, the cricket board is an extended part of the government, which either failed or was reluctant to give one of my cricketers protection when put under pressure by extremist groups."
He further criticized the ICC's handling of the matter, noting: "We all want to play in the World Cup. We have noticed that the security threat in India has not gone. The ICC has not looked into the actual matter. The ICC has reiterated their standard security procedure. We are still hopeful that the ICC will find a way."
BCB's Final Appeal to ICC
Meanwhile, BCB president Aminul Islam Bulbul announced that the board plans to make a last-ditch effort with the ICC to relocate their matches outside India. "We will go back to the ICC with our plan to play in Sri Lanka. They did give us a 24-hour ultimatum, but a global body can't really do that," Islam stated.
He highlighted potential consequences for the ICC: "The ICC will miss out on 200 million people watching the World Cup. It will be their loss. The ICC is calling Sri Lanka co-hosts. They are not co-hosts. It is a hybrid model. Some of the things I heard in the ICC meeting were shocking. We will keep fighting."
Tournament Implications
In the T20 World Cup 2026, Bangladesh has been placed in Group C alongside Nepal, Italy, England, and West Indies. Should Bangladesh ultimately withdraw from the tournament, Scotland emerges as the frontrunner to replace them in the competition.
Bangladesh's scheduled group matches were set to take place at two iconic Indian venues:
- Eden Gardens in Kolkata
- Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai
The ongoing standoff represents a significant development in international cricket diplomacy, with potential ramifications for future tournaments and bilateral cricket relations between the neighboring nations.
