Bangladesh’s participation in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup has been thrown into serious doubt after the International Cricket Council ICC firmly rejected the Bangladesh Cricket Board BCB request to relocate its group stage matches out of India.
The decision leaves Bangladesh with a narrow window to comply with the tournament schedule or risk being replaced from the global event.
The issue was discussed during an emergency ICC Board meeting held virtually on Wednesday, at which the majority of member nations voted against the BCB’s appeal.
According to sources familiar with the proceedings, 14 of the 16 board members opposed the relocation proposal, with only Bangladesh and Pakistan supporting the request.
Following the meeting, the ICC issued a clear deadline to the BCB, asking it to confirm within 24 hours whether the team would travel to India for the tournament, scheduled to run from February 7 to March 8.
Failure to do so could result in Bangladesh being replaced by another team, with Scotland emerging as the frontrunner to take their place in Group C.
The BCB had raised concerns related to player safety and logistical challenges, seeking to move its matches to Sri Lanka.
However, the ICC maintained that extensive security reviews, including independent assessments, found no credible threat to the safety of Bangladesh players, officials, fans, or media personnel at any of the designated venues in India.
In a statement, the ICC emphasised that altering match venues without substantial grounds could compromise the integrity of the tournament and the governing body’s neutral stance.
Officials reiterated that the event would proceed as planned and that consistency in scheduling was essential to maintaining fairness across all participating teams.
Bangladesh also explored the possibility of a group stage swap with Ireland, whose matches are scheduled in Sri Lanka.
However, that proposal failed to gain traction after Cricket Ireland confirmed it had received assurances that its fixtures would remain unchanged, a position that was reaffirmed during the ICC meeting.
Despite late backing from the Pakistan Cricket Board PCB, the combined appeal was unable to sway the ICC decision.
Sources indicated that the governing body had no intention of revisiting venue arrangements at such a late stage, especially given the extensive preparations already in place.
As per the official schedule, the Bangladesh team is safe and is set to play three of its four group matches in Kolkata against West Indies, Italy, and England, before travelling to Mumbai for the final group encounter against Nepal at the Wankhede Stadium.
With the clock ticking, the BCB is expected to consult with the Bangladesh government before taking a final call.
The next 24 hours could prove decisive, potentially determining whether Bangladesh features in the T20 World Cup or watches the tournament from the sidelines.
