Bangladesh Cricket Board Confirms Participation in T20 World Cup 2026
BCB Receives Assurance from ICC
Dhaka, Jan 7: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced that the International Cricket Council (ICC) has guaranteed Bangladesh's full participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 without any hindrances.
Following official communication with the ICC, the BCB addressed its worries regarding the safety of the Bangladesh National Cricket Team during their matches in India, including a request to change the location of these fixtures.
The ICC has reassured the BCB of its commitment to ensuring the safety of the Bangladesh team and expressed its willingness to work closely on security issues.
In their statement, the BCB noted, “The ICC has reiterated its dedication to ensuring the Bangladesh team’s uninterrupted participation in the tournament. They have expressed readiness to collaborate with us to address our concerns and have assured that our input will be valued in the security planning for the event.”
Previously, there were reports suggesting that the ICC had instructed Bangladesh to travel to India for their matches or face the risk of losing competition points.
However, the BCB dismissed these claims, stating that no such "warning or ultimatum" was issued, labeling the reports as "completely false".
“The BCB has noted certain media reports claiming that an ultimatum was given. We categorically state that these claims are unfounded and do not accurately represent the communication received from the ICC,” the statement added.
After an emergency meeting on January 4, the BCB formally requested the ICC to relocate Bangladesh’s matches to ensure the safety of players and officials.
This decision came after the Indian Premier League (IPL) team Kolkata Knight Riders released Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman, the only Bangladeshi player in the league, following a directive from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) due to reported violence against minorities in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is set to compete in Group C, with matches against West Indies, Italy, and England scheduled in Kolkata on February 7, 9, and 14, respectively, followed by a final group match against Nepal in Mumbai on February 17.