Bangladesh Refuses to Play in India Over Security

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has officially informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) that it will not send its national team to India for the 2026 T20 World Cup, citing significant security risks.

The decision follows an emergency meeting of 17 board directors on Sunday, triggered by the BCCI’s directive to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to drop Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL squad.

"If India cannot guarantee the safety of a single player under contract, how can they ensure the security of our entire team?" said BCB Director Khaled Mashud Pilot.

While the board initially hesitated to take drastic action, it moved forward after the interim government took a firm stance on player safety. The BCB has requested that its matches, originally scheduled for Kolkata and Mumbai, be moved to co-host Sri Lanka.

2026 T20 World Cup Squad Announced Amid the diplomatic tension, the BCB also announced its 15-member squad for the tournament. Wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das will lead the side, with Saif Hassan named as vice-captain.

The selection features several high-profile omissions. Veterans Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah Riyad are absent from the roster, as are Najmul Hossain Shanto, Jaker Ali, Soumya Sarkar, and Tanvir Islam. Only nine players remain from the 2024 campaign.

Bangladesh’s Group C Fixtures (Original Schedule): Feb 7: vs. West Indies (Kolkata) Feb 9: vs. Italy (Kolkata) Feb 14: vs. England (Kolkata) Feb 17: vs. Nepal (Mumbai)