The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) unveiled its 15-player squad for the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup on Sunday, naming wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das as captain. The announcement came just hours after the board received instructions from the country's sports ministry to formally request a major change to the tournament schedule.
Government Directive Over Safety Concerns
The sports ministry has directed the BCB to ask the International Cricket Council (ICC) to shift Bangladesh's entire slate of league matches from India to Sri Lanka. This unprecedented move stems from "concerns about players' safety" following the controversial exit of pace bowler Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Rahman was released by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Saturday, following instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Although the BCCI did not explicitly link the decision to the political situation in Bangladesh, it cited "what's been happening all around" as the reason. This development prompted Bangladesh government advisor Asif Nazrul to push for the venue change.
Squad Details and Tournament Logistics
The T20 World Cup is scheduled to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, 2026. Bangladesh's initial fixtures are all set in India: against the West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9, and England on February 14 in Kolkata, followed by a match against Nepal on February 17 in Mumbai.
The BCB's request to move these four games to Sri Lanka faces significant logistical hurdles. A BCCI source indicated that with less than a month before the tournament begins, such a change is virtually impossible to execute.
Team Composition and Key Returns
Litton Das will lead the side, with Mohammed Saif Hassan serving as his deputy. The squad sees the welcome return of experienced pacer Taskin Ahmed, who missed the recent series against Ireland. He is set to partner with the now-controversial Mustafizur Rahman, who was, as anticipated, included in the 15-man roster.
The full Bangladesh squad for the T20 World Cup is as follows:
- Litton Das (Captain)
- Mohammed Saif Hassan (Vice Captain)
- Tanzid Hasan
- Mohammad Parvez Hossain Emon
- Tawhid Hridoy
- Shamim Hossain
- Qazi Nurul Hasan Sohan
- Shak Mahedi Hasan
- Rishad Hossain
- Nasum Ahmed
- Mustafizur Rahman
- Tanzim Hasan Sakib
- Taskin Ahmed
- Md Shaifuddin
- Shoriful Islam
The situation creates a tense backdrop for Bangladesh's World Cup campaign, intertwining team selection with international cricket politics and security apprehensions just weeks before the global event kicks off.
