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ICC gives final ultimatum to Bangladesh [Source: X]
On January 21, the International Cricket Council confirmed that the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will go ahead as scheduled, with Bangladesh’s matches to be played exclusively in India and not in Sri Lanka, as requested by the Bangladesh Cricket Board.
During the ICC meeting, all security assessments and independent reviews were taken into account, and it was concluded that there was no credible reason for Bangladesh to avoid playing in India. The ICC also noted that making venue changes at this stage was not feasible due to logistical constraints.
Altering the schedule now would incur significant costs and could jeopardise the integrity of the tournament, while also setting a precedent that may undermine the ICC’s neutrality as a global governing body in future events. As a result, the ICC appears firm in its stance regarding Bangladesh’s participation in India.
Bangladesh request one final chance to decide on T20 World Cup 2026 participation
According to recent reports from The Daily Sun, BCB president Aminul Islam requested the ICC on Wednesday for one final opportunity to decide whether Bangladesh will take part in the marquee ICC event.
Although the ICC had earlier issued an ultimatum to the BCB on January 21 regarding their decision to play in India, the latest meeting has effectively extended the deadline by 24 hours. The BCB has now been given one additional day to confirm whether Bangladesh will travel to India for the tournament, which is scheduled to run from February 7 to March 8.
If Bangladesh refuses to comply with the revised deadline, they will be replaced by another team, with Scotland emerging as the most likely substitute. Following the meeting, the BCB is set to return to the Bangladesh government to reconsider its stance on participation in India, citing security concerns.
A final call is expected soon. Should Bangladesh again decline to play in India, Scotland is expected to replace them in Group C if the BCB fails to comply with the new deadline.
BCB president Aminul Islam Bulbul, along with a group of BCB directors, is scheduled to visit the residence of the government-appointed sports adviser on the night of January 21 to discuss Bangladesh’s participation in the T20 World Cup.
Aminul hints at Bangladesh's non-participation
Aminul Islam reportedly stated that he does not wish to put pressure on the government and reiterated concerns over player safety in India. However, despite multiple exchanges of messages and high-level meetings, a definitive decision is still awaited.
“We asked them to shift the matches to Sri Lanka. We said that we can switch with Ireland or Zimbabwe. It would have been the easiest way.
But Sri Lanka said they don’t want a new team in their group. After the vote, I told them that I want one last chance to speak to my government. They said it’s a valid point and gave me 24 or 48 hours to get back to them,” Aminul told reporters.
“I don’t want to put pressure on the government. We know that India is not secure for us. We remain in our stance that we want to play in Sri Lanka. I know the ICC denied us, but we will talk to the government one more time. I will convey the government’s feedback to the ICC,” Aminul said.
The final decision will be taken by Bangladesh’s interim government during the cabinet meeting, with an official announcement expected by the morning of January 22.
