mid uncertainty over Bangladesh’s participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 which is set to be played between 20 teams from February 7 to March 8 across five venues in India and three in Sri Lanka, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), in a fresh statement on Wednesday (January 7), has refuted media reports claiming that the International Cricket Council (ICC) has given them the ultimatum of either playing their Group C games against the West Indies, Italy, England and Nepal in India or forfeiting points, stating, “The ICC has conveyed its willingness to work closely with the BCB to address the concerns raised.” And assured the board that their inputs will be welcomed.
“The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has received a response from the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding the Board’s expressed concerns over the safety and security of the Bangladesh National Cricket Team in India for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, including the request for relocation of the team’s matches,” read an official statement from BCB.
Here’s the remainder of the statement by BCB.
In its communication, the ICC has reiterated its commitment to ensuring the full and uninterrupted participation of the Bangladesh team in the tournament. The ICC has conveyed its willingness to work closely with the BCB to address the concerns raised and has assured that the Board’s inputs will be welcomed and duly considered as part of the detailed security planning for the event.
The BCB has also taken note of certain reports published in a section of the media suggesting that the Board has been issued an ultimatum in this regard. The BCB categorically states that such claims are completely false, unfounded and do not reflect the nature or content of the communication received from the ICC.
The Board will continue constructive engagement with the ICC and relevant event authorities in a cooperative and professional manner to arrive at an affable and practical solution that ensures the smooth and successful participation of the team in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
