Bangladesh’s place in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 hangs in the balance, with the International Cricket Council (ICC) giving the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) time until January 21 to take a final call on participation. The global tournament is set to begin on February 7, leaving little room for uncertainty.
At the heart of the issue is Bangladesh’s hesitation to play its scheduled group matches in India, one of the co-hosts of the tournament along with Sri Lanka. Bangladesh has been drawn in Group C, alongside England, West Indies, Nepal, and Italy, with most of its matches planned at Eden Gardens in Kolkata and one in Mumbai.
The BCB has expressed concerns related to security and the broader diplomatic climate, and has suggested that its matches be shifted to Sri Lanka instead. However, the ICC has made it clear that moving venues or reshuffling groups at this stage would be extremely difficult. Tournament schedules, broadcast commitments, ticket sales, and team logistics have already been finalised, leaving little flexibility.
Senior ICC officials recently held discussions with BCB representatives in Dhaka, underlining the urgency of the decision. The ICC has also shared its security assessment with the BCB, stating that there is no specific or targeted threat to the Bangladesh team in India, and that the risk level is comparable to other international sporting events.
Despite these assurances, the BCB has yet to formally confirm whether the team will travel to India. The January 21 deadline has therefore become crucial. If Bangladesh does not give its consent by then, the ICC is prepared to move ahead without them.
In such a scenario, Scotland is widely expected to step in as a replacement team, based on ICC rankings and qualification criteria. While no final announcement has been made, preparations are reportedly in place to ensure the tournament proceeds smoothly, regardless of Bangladesh’s decision.
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