Bangladesh Refuse to Back Down in T20 World Cup Row After Dhaka Decision

Dhaka — January 22, 2026 — The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has stood resolutely by its decision not to send the national team to India for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, escalating a high-stakes row with cricket’s governing body. The decision came after a crucial meeting Thursday involving the BCB leadership, members of the national team, and government sports advisers in Dhaka, where officials reaffirmed that security concerns and diplomatic tensions made travel to India unacceptable for the squad. The World Cup is scheduled to begin on February 7, with Bangladesh set to play four group-stage matches in Kolkata and Mumbai.

The standoff stems from the BCB’s earlier request to the International Cricket Council (ICC) — formally made in early January — to relocate Bangladesh’s matches from India to Sri Lanka, citing unresolved risks and broader geopolitical friction. When the ICC rejected the plea on January 21, asserting that independent security assessments showed no credible threat and that a late venue change was not feasible logistically, Bangladesh was given a tight deadline to confirm its participation. After deliberating through Thursday, BCB officials announced they would not back down from their stance, even if it means the team could be replaced in the tournament.