ICC Sets January 21 Deadline for Bangladesh on T20 World Cup 2026 Participation
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has given the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) a firm deadline of January 21 to confirm its participation in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Reports indicate that ICC officials held another round of discussions with BCB representatives in Dhaka on Saturday. Bangladesh reiterated its willingness to participate but refused to play matches in India due to security concerns, proposing that its fixtures be moved to co-host Sri Lanka.
The ICC, however, has rejected both the venue change and Bangladesh’s proposal to swap groups with Ireland. Under the current schedule, Bangladesh is in Group C, with matches set in Mumbai and Kolkata. ICC officials maintain that there is no credible security threat to the team in India.
The dispute began after the BCCI instructed Kolkata Knight Riders to drop Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman, prompting the BCB to formally communicate its concerns to the ICC on January 4. The ICC has made it clear that if Bangladesh withdraws, a replacement team will be included based on current rankings, with Scotland reportedly next in line.
While the ICC has granted the BCB time until January 21 for a final decision, tensions remain over Bangladesh’s participation in the tournament.
