Bangladesh Rejects ICC Conditions for T20 World Cup Participation

Bangladesh has rejected the ICC's conditions for participating in the T20 World Cup 2026, citing unreasonable demands. The Bangladesh Cricket Board has threatened to withdraw unless their request for a venue change is met. With the tournament set to begin on February 7, uncertainty looms over their participation as discussions with the ICC continue. The ICC maintains that security risks are low, but tensions remain high as the deadline for a decision approaches. Will Bangladesh find a resolution in time for the World Cup?

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 20, 2026, 16:34 IST

Bangladesh's Stance on ICC Conditions

On Tuesday, Bangladesh firmly dismissed what they described as 'unreasonable conditions' set by the ICC for their involvement in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026, which is scheduled to take place in India. This statement was made by Asif Nazrul, the Youth and Sports Adviser.

BCB's Threat to Withdraw and Venue Change Request

Following the exclusion of Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL 2026, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has indicated that the national team will not participate in India under the current terms. Despite multiple discussions between ICC and BCB officials, a consensus has yet to be achieved, casting doubt on Bangladesh's participation in the T20 World Cup.

Asif Nazrul stated, 'If the ICC yields to the Indian cricket board's pressure and imposes unreasonable conditions, we will not comply.' He further noted, 'There have been instances in international cricket where India opted not to play in Pakistan, leading the ICC to change the venue. We have reasonably requested a venue change.'

Clarification on Participation Deadline

The BCB previously refuted claims that the ICC had set a January 21 deadline for their decision regarding participation in the T20 World Cup, which begins on February 7. Amjad Hossain, the media committee chairman, asserted that 'no specific date' had been established.

According to ICC sources, the governing body had indeed issued an ultimatum to the BCB to finalize their decision by January 21. Should the BCB decline to send their team, a replacement, likely Scotland based on current rankings, may be named. The T20 World Cup is set to commence on February 7.

ICC's Firm Position on Schedule and Security

The ICC remains steadfast in maintaining the original schedule, which places Bangladesh in Group C alongside Italy, New Zealand, West Indies, and Nepal. With only three weeks until Bangladesh's opening match against the West Indies in Kolkata, no final decision has been reached.

During discussions, it was revealed that the ICC did not agree to a proposal for Bangladesh and Ireland to swap groups, which would have relocated Bangladesh to Group B and their opening matches to Sri Lanka. The ICC has also reassured the BCB that there are no security threats to the Bangladesh team.

Security Assessment Results

According to ICC sources, independent risk assessments conducted by recognized security experts concluded that there are no significant threats preventing Bangladesh from playing their scheduled T20 World Cup matches in India. The overall security risk for the tournament has been categorized as low to moderate, aligning with the profiles of many major global sporting events.

The assessments did not identify any specific threats to the Bangladesh team, its officials, or the match venues in India. The risk associated with their fixtures in Kolkata and Mumbai is deemed manageable through established security measures.