The deadlock over Bangladesh’s participation in the 2026 T20 World Cup remains unresolved after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) rejected a request from the International Cricket Council (ICC) to reconsider its boycott of matches in India.
In a high-stakes video conference on Tuesday, a BCB delegation led by President Aminul Islam and CEO Nizam Uddin Chowdhury reiterated that the team would not travel to India, citing "unresolved security concerns." The board maintained its demand to relocate Bangladesh's matches to a neutral venue, such as co-host Sri Lanka.
The ICC pointed to the "logistical rigidity" of the tournament, noting that the schedule is already finalized. However, the BCB remained unmoved. "The Board's position remains unchanged," the BCB confirmed in a statement, emphasizing that player and staff safety is paramount.
The standoff intensified following comments from Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul, who labeled an ICC security assessment "absurd."5 Nazrul revealed that the ICC had flagged the inclusion of pacer Mustafizur Rahman as a potential security risk. This follows the recent controversy where the Kolkata Knight Riders were reportedly forced by the BCCI to release the bowler, triggering a wave of "anti-Bangladesh" sentiment.
While both parties agreed to continue talks, the fate of the Tigers’ World Cup campaign hangs in the balance.8 If no compromise is reached, Bangladesh risks forfeiting points for its matches scheduled in Kolkata and Mumbai.
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